African Sun Fuels Solar-Powered Study Time
Burkina Faso student teacher Hema Cecile has a lot more time to crack the books thanks to a recent initiative from the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
The launch of the Lighting Africa program (www.lightingafrica.org) by the two organizations this year has made it possible for Cecile to swap kerosene lamps (petroleumslamper) for a solar-powered LED lantern.
That means she and a thousand other households in the town of Dedougou – which lies more than 200 km west of the capital Ouagadougou – can extend hours of study, reading or leisure without cutting back on other things.
Cecile lives in the worlds second poorest country, where the choice to keep a light on at night means sacrificing resources for necessities such as food, heat, power and shelter.
The LED lights consume almost no power, and can keep shining all night if required. That should mean a more productive, better educated, wealthier population – a virtuous circle of reduced energy use and increased economic activity.
Lighting Africa is a 12 million US dollar project which intends to bring light to the poorest regions across sub-Saharan Africa.
The program works with the lighting industry to develop clean, affordable lighting and energy solutions for millions without access to electric grids. Its aim is to accelerate the market and to develop education programs that inform off-grid populations currently dependent on costly, inefficient and hazardous fuel-based lighting about modern alternatives.
Cecile used to spend 3-4 dollar (15-20 DKR) a month on kerosene for her lamp. That is a large proportion of her earnings – like 70 percent of the population in this harsh Sahelian country she lives on less than 2 dollar a day. – I can work later at night, its good for my studies; I can read a book, said Cecile.
Her solar lantern is made and distributed by CB Energie which won an open competition to be awarded the contract. Because of the large number of sunlight hours in Burkina Faso, the lamps can be relied on to work whenever needed. The battery life is 2-4 years, and can be replaced once they lose their storage capacity. The LED lights last 5-10 years.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
