Solar Power Lights Up Remote Areas

Tag : Solar Energy Charger

The programme of using solar power is being promoted by the energyministry with support from the German Technical Cooperation.
The programme concentrates on rural electrification, renewableenergy systems and micro-hydro power.A solar panel on the roof of ahouse. Solar power has helped many rural households
Most of the povertystricken rural households are 30 kilometres awayfrom the nearest electric pole, and since they have a low powerdemand, connectin
them to the grid is not economically viable.
"The solar energy helps us a lot," says
Kagere's mother Juliet Nanyonga. "Our children can read theirbooks and we can do our household chores, even at night."
Alice Nalwoga, a teacher, is a proud owner of a 20-watt solarsystem. "With no electricity, the children were using candles,which is dangerous," says Nalwoga. "The children oftenfailed to do their homework because they found it too difficult tostudy under the dim light of candles or kerosene wick lamps.
But now all the discomfort is in the past." Christine Namazzi,a distributor of solar systems, says it takes a full day to chargea solar battery, which has a two to three-year lifetime.
The renewable energy system itself can last 20 years. Thesolar-powered white light is brighter than the yellowish light fromkerosene lamps. A kerosene lamp consumes about one litre ofkerosene a week, which takes up a large percentage of the income ofan average peasant household.
"We reap huge benefits from solar power. We are able toincrease our profits because we can even work at night," saysJoseph Ddumba, a saloon owner. With the solar-powered shaver,Ddumba works on customers up to 8:00pm.
Solar packages
There are three tailored solar packages on sale. The seven-watts"solar light", which costs sh350,000 comprises a singlebulb and socket for a phone charger.
The 20-watts "solar home" unit consists of four bulbs, aphone charger slot and a small radio at sh850,000. The "solarbusiness" with double options for either shaving or phonecharging.
Christine Namazzi, a distributor of solar systems with NACO Solarsays the cost includes installation and labour.
Benefits
Many homes in rural Uganda are poorly ventilated, leaving theoccupants exposed to harmful gases emitted by kerosene lamps.
Even a few hours of solar-powered lighting in homes and small shopshas been credited with better grades for school children, betterproductivity for cottagebased industries such as saloons, phonecharging and good sales at fruit stands, where produce is no longerspoiled by fumes from kerosene lamps.