Solar Lighting Project in Zambia

In Zambia, 90% of people living in rural areas live below the international extreme poverty line, on less than $1.25 per day. In rural households around 89% of the households do not have access to electricity. They use kerosene or paraffin lamps and candles to light their homes. But these are dim, low-quality sources of light. They emit toxic fumes that cause respiratory illnesses, they are a fire risk, and they contribute to climate change.

This project is distributing 652,000 solar lights to rural homes in communities across four provinces of Zambia: Western, Southern, Eastern and Lusaka, bringing light to 1.5 million people.

The project distributes our award-winning solar lights to rural families breaking the affordability barrier by selling the lights at a subsidised price and providing access in rural villages using our own distribution network, including last-mile distribution partners.

The lights distributed are multifunctional, portable and can be used indoors as desk lamps or hung on the wall, as well as outdoors as a head torch. By distributing our solar lights through schools and other community centres, it enables children to read and study at night with a bright, clean and safe light.

Project Impacts

The project delivers not only verified emissions reductions, but unique co-benefits. By using solar lights families improve their health, education and economic circumstances, contributing to SDG 1, SDG 7 and SDG 13. 

• To date over 464,000 solar lights have been distributed, with  650,000 planned by end of 2023
• SDG 1 - over $1 million in aggregate savings from expenditure in lighting by users of the solar lights
• SDG 7 - 689,846 people benefit from access to clean lighting across 4 provinces of Zambia
• SDG 13 - 10,078 tonnes of emission reductions certified to date

The simplicity, quality, and affordability of our solar  lights empower socio-economic development. Families report on a range of benefits:

Light quality - fossil fuel lamps typically produce 10 lumens of light. Our solar light produce more than 3 times that amount.

Education - extra study hours for children, which  supports higher grade attainment.

Health - better air quality in homes, protecting families' respiratory systems, and brighter lights  that avoid straining eyes.

Daily costs - families save money by avoiding the continuous costs of refuelling kerosene lamps

Road accidents - visibility of pedestrians and cyclists at dusk, dawn, and night.

Safety - fossil fuel lamps are dangerous to ignite and pose poisoning risks to children. Solar lights can also help women be safe when outside at night

Energy access - access to the first rung of the clean energy ladder.

Income generation - we offer employment opportunities through our project. Extension of the light hours also enables new income generating activities