Solanterns

Replacing 1 Million Kerosene Lanterns with 1 Million Solar Lanterns
Clean Energy
Nairobi
Kenya

Solanterns offers smoke-free, brighter solar lanterns at a lower cost than kerosene lamps; thus, health risks, and fire and environmental hazards are reduced, and investment opportunities are created for micro-entrepreneurs. Solaterns builds on exiting institutional distribution channels and rental services to reach poor customers and convince people to go solar. High-visibility brand stores, cooperative societies, micro-finance institutions and others serve as sales points, partly offering financing for the purchase. Youths are trained as micro-entrepreneurs to rent out lanterns to households who cannot affort the upfront investment. Over three years, households can either spend US$ 146 on kerosene or US$ 25 on a solar lantern. 

Eco-Inclusive Impacts
This initiative provides economic, environmental and health benefits to both rural and urban households by sourcing and distributing solar lanterns and training youth and women micro-entrepreneurs.
  • Reducing health and safety risks associated with kerosene lighting: some 60% of child deaths in developing countries result from respiratory illnesses attributed partly to indoor air pollution; 60% poisoning incidents are due to accidental kerosene ingestion by children.
  • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions - some 100 tons per year for one thousand kerosene lamps replaced.

 

 

 

  • Reducing daily expenses of households living on less than a dollar a day by 10% as it helps saving the cost of kerosene (US$ 121 over 3 years).  
  • Creating new job opportunities by training and engaging youths from poor neighbourhoods.

Partners

The partners of this innovative initiative are a private company, a local NGO and a microfinance institution that provide economic, environmental and health benefits to both rural and urban households by sourcing and distributing solar lanterns and training youth and women micro-entrepreneurs.

Renewable Energy Ventures (K) Ltd. is responsible for sourcing and distributing the lanterns, and raising funds.

Bridgestaff Consulting Ltd. offers financial training to the micro-entrepreneurs in preparation for their business entry.

K-Rep’s Juhudi Kilimo is a micro-finance institution providing micro-credits to the youth entrepreneurs.