Our goal: To eradicate the kerosene
lamp from Africa by 2020
There are approximately 110 million off-grid households in Africa; in Sub-Saharan Africa,
only 9% of the rural population have access to electricity.
A lack of access to energy is one of the main
causes of poverty – WWF
The Energy Crisis
An estimated 58.3million households without grid access are
using kerosene to light their homes; 92% of the population of
Kenya uses kerosene, mainly for lighting.
But kerosene…
…is expensive, typically accounting for 10-15% of total household income. In
Tanzania, it can cost as much as 70% of a family’s income
…is bad for health, Paul Shirima in rural Tanzania told SolarAid “We used to
cough and get flu when we were using the kerosene lamp, also my children
were getting eye pains because of the fake kerosene.”
But kerosene…
…is dangerous, studies in Nigeria showed 32% of burns in a hospital were
caused by kerosene
…is bad for the environment, a kerosene lamp emits one ton of CO2 over five
years – as well as ‘black carbon’ (soot) that traps heat into the atmosphere
…gives poor light, a normal 60W bulb gives over 70 times more light
The Power of Solar
This small solar light is called an S2 d.light
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It costs approximately £5
Can provide 4 hours of bright light
Is safe and clean
Will last for at least 5 years
So what difference can a solar light make?
Solar lights can…
Save money
In Kenya, all solar light customers interviewed have reduced their kerosene
use since buying the solar light, saving their families nearly £74 a year
Savings are most commonly spent on food, education or investing in farming
and small businesses
Solar lights can…
Increase child study time
92% of solar light customers we spoke to in Malawi said their children are
doing more homework at night
On average, children are doing two extra hours every evening because
having a solar light means that light is always available
Solar lights can…
Improve health
Nearly all customers we talked to in Kenya said that switching from kerosene
to solar light improved health, with less coughing and eye irritation
Kerosene contributes to indoor air pollution that kills over 1 million people
every year in Africa.
Solar lights can…
Help the environment
In Tanzania, nearly nine in ten solar light customers we talked to were using
kerosene before they bought a solar light
Since buying a solar light, these customers have stopped using one of their
kerosene lamps; that’s 200 kg of CO₂ emissions saved per lamp, every year
Solar lights can…
Increase opportunity
Several studies in developing countries show that access to proper lighting
has a positive impact on productivity and income-generating activity
Where SolarAid work
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Tanzania
Kenya
Zambia
Malawi
A market based approach
SolarAid does not give lights away but sells them
through its social enterprise, SunnyMoney.
Why is selling lights better than giving them away?
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A local market is created in a rural region where solar lights are not available
Customers value the lights which all come with a warranty
Local retailers can stock and repair lights, creating jobs
It gives people choice and opportunity, not aid
Most importantly it is sustainable
It’s working
In April 2013, SunnyMoney, sold more solar lights in one month than in the
whole of 2011.
There is huge demand for lights. But getting them to remote
rural regions remains an expensive and difficult challenge.
What next?
There are still 58.3million households dependent on kerosene for lighting in
Africa.
SolarAid’s goal is to:
eradicate the kerosene
lamp from Africa by 2020.
We’ve reached about half a million already…
But there’s much more to be done.
Can you help?
Yes! Whether it’s by fundraising, spreading awareness of our work or getting
your companies, schools or any other organisations your involved with engaged
in the SolarAid mission – join us.
Together we can get a
clean light into every
home in Africa and
eradicate the toxic
kerosene lamp by
2020.
Get in touch!
www.solar-aid.org
info@solar-aid.org
Twitter: @SolarAid
Facebook: facebook/solaraid