Sustainable and commercially viable supply of solar lanterns

SNV is working with PPS, a private enterprise working in solar, to facilitate the provision of portable solar lamps to 550 households from RPBHC - a women's cooperative of 10,000 members producing shea butter.

concluded

SNV is working with PPS, a private enterprise working in solar, to facilitate the provision of portable solar lamps to 550 households from RPBHC - a women's cooperative of 10,000 members producing shea butter.

The objective of this project is to establish a sustainable and commercially viable supply and distribution model for PicoPV products and services, building initial lessons for up scaling and replication afterwards. The main objectives of this pilot phase are:

  • Providing access to energy in rural areas with quality solar equipment and make the activity sustainable;

  • Making available providers to sustain the provision of solar lights;

  • Create and facilitate a market through a commercial partnership (meaning create income and employment through the distribution of solar lamps);

  • Introducing of a credit component to a large cooperative representing the BoP.

Achievements

  • 280 lamps from Barefoot Power distributed;

  • 270 lamps from ToughStuff distributed;

  • Women shea butter cooperative used as main distribution network;

  • Credit for solar lamp with a local MFI is available and interested;

  • Women cooperative has promotors and technicians for the promotion and after sales service;

  • Valuable lessons for the partnership on bottlenecks in the distribution chain and consumer behaviour, response and interests.

solar pv

Our donors and partners

Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS)