Small systems help to Kosovo

The United Nations will power six radio repeater stations on mountain tops in war torn Kosovo with wind-solar hybrid systems made by World Power Technologies Inc of Duluth, Minnesota. The renewable energy systems are being installed with a grant from the United States Agency for International Development, USAID. The systems, which include a 500 W Whisper H500 wind generator as well as a 53 W solar panel, will be used in remote sites to help communication between non-governmental organisations and voluntary groups, rather than amongst the UN peace keeping forces. The systems were to have been shipped from Minnesota on October 14. It will also be the first time that a UN peace keeping mission has used wind power to run a communications system.