Our goal: To eradicate the kerosenelamp from Africa by 2020

A lack of access to energy is one of the main causes of poverty – WWF

There are approximately 110 million off-grid households in Africa; in Sub-Saharan Africa, only 9% of the rural population have access to electricity.

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.

The Energy Crisis

…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

But kerosene…

This small solar light is called an S2 d.light

• It costs approximately £5• Can provide 4 hours of bright light• Is safe and clean• Will last for at least 5 years

The Power of Solar

So what difference can a solar light make?

Save moneyIn Kenya, all solar light customers interviewed have reduced their kerosene use since buying the solar light, saving their families nearly £74 a yearSavings are most commonly spent on food, education or investing in farming and small businesses

Solar lights can…

Increase child study time92% of solar light customers we spoke to in Malawi said their children are doing more homework at nightOn average, children are doing two extra hours every evening because having a solar light means that light is always available

Solar lights can…

Improve healthNearly all customers we talked to in Kenya said that switching from kerosene to solar light improved health, with less coughing and eye irritationKerosene contributes to indoor air pollution that kills over 1 million people every year in Africa.

Solar lights can…

Help the environmentIn Tanzania, nearly nine in ten solar light customers we talked to were using kerosene before they bought a solar lightSince 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 opportunitySeveral studies in developing countries show that access to proper lighting has a positive impact on productivity and income-generating activity

Solar lights can…

Where SolarAid work

• Tanzania• Kenya• Zambia• Malawi

SolarAid does not give lights away but sells them through its social enterprise, SunnyMoney.

Why is selling lights better than giving them away?

A market based approach

1. A local market is created in a rural region where solar lights are not available2. Customers value the lights which all come with a warranty 3. Local retailers can stock and repair lights, creating jobs4. It gives people choice and opportunity, not aid

Most importantly it is sustainable

In April 2013, SunnyMoney, sold more solar lights in one month than in the whole of 2011.

It’s working

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.

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.

Can you help?

Together we can get a clean light into every home in Africa and eradicate the toxic kerosene lamp by

2020.

www.solar-aid.org info@solar-aid.orgTwitter: @SolarAid

Facebook: facebook/solaraid

Get in touch!