Africa needs prepaid Solar Home Electricity
Post date: Dec 14, 2011 11:17:18 AM
Rural Africa gains new solar power gear
This pre-paid power plan could revolutionize rural Africa
Econet Solar
Econet Solar is launching a new product with the goal of providing stable,off-grid electricity in rural areas of the globe, namely Africa. The company has unveiled The Home Power Station in hopes that it can begin providing power to the estimated 70 percent of Africans that don’t have a source of electricity.
Paid for via pre-paid cell phone
The Home Power Station uses a solar panel to charge a battery which provides enough juice for four lights and a cell phone charger. But the most interesting thing about the system is the way people pay for their power. It is said to be the first solar power system that is paid for via pre-paid cell phone. An estimated 96 percent of of mobile subscriptions in Africa are on a pre-paid, or pay as you go basis.
4 rooms - 5h Lighting solar /day
It has been designed to light up to four rooms for as many as five hours a day using only the power of the sun.
source: tecca.com | econetsolar.com