This book provides a comprehensive overview of the technology behind the pico-solar revolution and offers guidance on how to test and choose quality products. The book also discusses how pioneering companies and initiatives are overcoming challenges to reach scale in the marketplace, from innovative distribution strategies to reach customers in rural India and Tanzania, to product development in Cambodia, product assembly in Mozambique and the introduction of ‘pay as you go’ technology in Kenya.
Pico-solar is a new category of solar electric system which has the potential to transform the lives of over 1.6 billion people who live without access to electricity. Pico-solar systems are smaller and more affordable than traditional solar systems and have the power to provide useful amounts of electricity to charge the increasing number of low power consuming appliances from mobile phones, e-readers and parking metres, to LED lights which have the power to light up millions of homes in the same way the mobile phone has connected and empowered communities across the planet.
The book explains the important role pico-solar has in reducing reliance on fossil fuels while at the same time tackling world poverty and includes useful recommendations for entrepreneurs, charities and governments who want to participate in developing this exciting and rapidly expanding market.
Preface
Chapter 1: An Introduction to Pico-solar
1. Pico-solar - A New
Category of Solar Electric Power
2. System Components
3. The Pico-solar
Market
4. Power to Transform Lives
5. Overcoming Traditional Solar Barriers
6. Market trends
Chapter 2: The Solar Resource
1. Introduction to Solar Power
2. Putting the Suns Energy to Work
3. Solar Radiation
4. Solar Incident
Angle
5. Insolation
Chapter 3: PV Solar Cells and Modules
1. The Solar Cell
2. How Solar Cells Work
3. The Solar Module
4. Module Ratings
5. Module
Output
6. Types of PV Modules
7. PV Wiring and Junction Boxes
8. PV Module
Disposal
9. Prices and Innovations
Chapter 4: Batteries
1. Introduction to
Batteries
2. Battery Chemistries
3. Prices and Innovations
Chapter 5:
Lighting
1. Lighting Principles and Measurements
2. Light Emitting Diodes
(LEDs)
Chapter 6: Energy Efficient Appliances
1. Powering Small Appliances
2.
Calculating Energy Needs
3. Calculating Module Size and Battery Capacity
4.
Portable Electronic Appliances
5. Larger Solar Systems
Chapter 7: Quality and
Standards
1. Standards and Quality marks
2. Product Life and Warranty
3.
Product Performance
4. International Classifications
5. Product Testing
Chapter 8: Using and Maintaining Products
1. Selling Pico-solar Responsibly
2. Basic Repairs
Chapter 9: The Impact of Pico-solar
1. Light for Development
2. Economic Impact
3. Health and Safety
4. Education
5. Environment
6.
Communications
Chapter 10: Challenges Facing the Market
1. Reaching the Base
of the Pyramid
2. Logistics and Supply
3. Distribution
4. Financial Barriers
and Solutions
5. Marketing at the Base of the Pyramid
6. Customer and
Aftersales Service
7. Import Taxes and Tariffs
8. Product Disposal and
Recycling
9. Policy and Market Facilitation The Role of Government
Chapter
11: Case Studies
1. SunnyMoney - Scaling Up in East Africa
2. Fosera
Manufacturing in Mozambique
3. Toyola Energy Entrepreneurs in West Africa
4. Worldreader Solar Charging E-readers in Ghana
5. Greenlight Planet:
Direct to Village Distribution in India
6. Orb Energy India
7. Kamworks -
Creating Lighting Solutions in Cambodia
8. NWFT - Microfinancing Solar in the
Philippines
Chapter 12: Resources
1. Further Reading
2. Industry Bodies,
Initiatives and Programmes
3. Pico-solar Companies Specialising in Lighting
Products
4. References
John Keane is Managing Director and a founding member of SunnyMoney, the largest distributor of pico-solar lighting products in Africa. Previously, he was Head of Programmes for SolarAid, the international NGO that set up and owns SunnyMoney. He became acutely aware of the pressing need for affordable, renewable energy in off-grid communities from living in the village of Uhomini in rural Tanzania as a volunteer in 2000. He has since spent more than a decade leading and developing solar projects across east and west Africa and has played an instrumental role in building both SolarAid and SunnyMoney into respected international organisations.
Rohkem infot Taylor & Francis e-raamatute kohta