Switching on to solar - Goodbye kerosene

• Pages: 5-7

REV is in the business of

delivering “clean, efficient

and affordable energy to

Kenyans through innovative

energy generation, distribu-

tion and financing solutions,”

Mr. Nganga explained.

The company works “closely

with [its] clients to help re-

duce their current energy

consumption, recommend

alternative energy sources,

identify technology part-

ners and structure and

source funding for the im-

plementation” of alternative

energy projects, ensuring

"the right solution, for the

right client at an attractive

return on investment.”1

REV focuses on:

distributing household-level energy solutions,

such as solar-powered lanterns;

working, as an independent power provider

(IPP), on grid-tied renewable energy projects

generating energy from wind and biogas for

Kenya’s national grid. In 2008 Kenya passed a

feeding tariff law allowing private companies to

generate electricity for the grid;

offering consultancy services, including to the

World Bank.

Household

energy

solutions

Some 30 million Kenyans

(around 77 percent2 of the

country’s population of 39

million) are without electric-

ity, relying on kerosene for

their lighting needs. Realizing

that a sizeable segment of

Kenya’s population “will not

have access to the grid in

their lifetime,” REV launched

its Solanterns Initiative. The

company provides poor

households in rural and peri-

urban areas of Kenya with

clean and affordable lighting

by giving “access to solar lan-

terns” which, unlike kerosene

lamps, don’t “cause indoor

pollution and the consequent respiratory illnesses,

are not a fire hazard, are relatively affordable and

provide better illumination,” Mr. Nganga explained.

Sun King™ solar lanterns

Under the initiative, REV partners with U.S. company

Greenlight Planet, Inc. which designs and produces

the Sun King™ solar lanterns. Mr. Nganga explained

that, as the materials and manufacturing capacity

to make the lanterns are not readily available in

Kenya, it makes more economic sense to “access

great quality finished products that can be used

locally from abroad.”

Greenlight Planet’s CEO, Patrick Walsh, told

WIPO

Magazine

that the inspiration for the Sun King™

SWITCHING ON TO

SOLAR – GOODBYE

KEROSENE

>>>

1 www.africarenewables.

com/

2 According to the

Lighting Africa

Program of the

World Bank and the

International Finance

Corporation (IFC)

5

An estimated 1.6 billion people in the developing world depend on kerosene lamps for lighting. Resource

poor households spend a significant proportion of their income on fuel for this low-level lighting source

which exposes them to serious health and safety hazards. The long-term financial, health and safety and

environmental costs of kerosene lamps are considerable. A smarter, cleaner, more affordable and efficient

alternative in the form of solar-powered lanterns offers hope for a brighter future. Joseph Nganga,

1

CEO

of Kenya-based Renewable Energy Ventures (REV), met with WIPO Magazine on the sidelines of the WIPO

Conference on Innovation and Climate Change in Geneva in July 2011 and explained what his company is

doing to light up rural and peri-urban communities in Kenya.

Mukuri Primary School students benefit from solar

lanterns to do their homework without smoke and

the risk of fire hazards. After just a few weeks, the

performance of the students increased significantly.

Photo: Renewable Energy Ventures