A Possibility to enhance rural electrification with small solar home systems using light emitting diodes
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This paper presents a study done in Uganda using LED lights instead of the conventional CFLs.
In order to make Solar PV technology available to people living in rural areas, there is the need to reduce the initial investment in Solar Home Systems (SHS), without compromising quality and life span. This paper presents a study done in Uganda using LED lights instead of the conventional CFLs. This option makes it possible to use small sealed deep cycle batteries, low Wattage panels and avoids using charge-controller. Ten of these LED-SHS were installed in a community far from the grid. For three months research assistants were in touch with the users to provide awareness, technical support and gauge customer satisfaction. The test was a success. At the end of the period all users decided to purchase the system and another bigger group manifested interest in replacing their paraffin lamps by LED -SHS. Following the evaluation, a number of improvements have been proposed. The next step is to involve a micro-finance institution to avail the initial capital to pay in one go the USD 150 for the system. Future development includes hiring a designer to make the product more marketable and negotiations with Government and NGOs for possible subsidies.
In order to make Solar PV technology available to people living in rural areas, there is the need to reduce the initial investment in Solar Home Systems (SHS), without compromising quality and life span. This paper presents a study done in Uganda using LED lights instead of the conventional CFLs. This option makes it possible to use small sealed deep cycle batteries, low Wattage panels and avoids using charge-controller. Ten of these LED-SHS were installed in a community far from the grid. For three months research assistants were in touch with the users to provide awareness, technical support and gauge customer satisfaction. The test was a success. At the end of the period all users decided to purchase the system and another bigger group manifested interest in replacing their paraffin lamps by LED -SHS. Following the evaluation, a number of improvements have been proposed. The next step is to involve a micro-finance institution to avail the initial capital to pay in one go the USD 150 for the system. Future development includes hiring a designer to make the product more marketable and negotiations with Government and NGOs for possible subsidies.
Keywords
Rural electrification, solar home systems
Citation
Da Silva, I.P., Simonis P. “A possibility to enhance rural electrification – Small Solar Home Systems using Light Emitting Diodes” ESI Africa – The Power Journal of Africa issue 4, Volume 12, 2005, pages 43 and 45