Market Trial: Selling Off-Grid Lighting Products in Rural Kenya

Abstract

The Lumina Project includes an Off-Grid Lighting Technology Assessment activity to provide manufacturers, resellers, program managers, and policymakers with information to help ensure the delivery of products that maximize consumer acceptance and the market success of off-grid lighting solutions for the developing world. Periodic Research Notes present new results in a timely fashion between the issuance of more formal and lengthy Technical Reports. Our results should not be construed as product endorsements by the authors. For a full archive of

From carbon to light: a new framework for estimating greenhouse gas emissions reductions from replacing fuel-based lighting with LED systems

“…A recent study (short-term, selfreported data) found more than an 80% kerosene reduction-and an even higher rate for candlesacross 54 homes in Malawi (Adkins et al 2010). Observations in Kenya found approximately 50% reduction in expected savings for night traders (Alstone et al, in press) and 14% for households (Tracy et al 2010a). …”

“…The estimate is also built up from the nominally unelectrified population, whereas electrified households and businesses revert to kerosene during power outages, which are frequent in many areas. In a recent market test in Kenya, just over 25% of those who purchased LED lamps intended to replace kerosene lanterns occupied homes that were on the grid (Tracy et al 2010a). …”

“…First, the initial cost of small, LED-based off-grid lighting systems, which are now available at retail prices on the order of $10-70, 12 are frequently five to 20 times lower than conventional solar home systems, which often sell for $300-1,000. This was born out in a recent side-by-side demonstration of LED lighting versus traditional solar fluorescent lighting in chicken production (Tracy and Mills 2010a). The lower cost of LED lighting systems makes them more broadly affordable to the lowest-income families and businesses that do not have direct access to grid power.…”

“…Surveys of early adopters in Kenya showed that 87% of LED flashlight buyers had problems within 6 months . A market trial conducted in 2008 found that many of the lamps had failed by the time of a return visit 2 years later (Tracy et al 2010a). Fortunately, private companies are beginning to offer superior choices.…”

“…A study of Ethiopian households estimated that kerosene use grows considerably faster than income (Mulugeta 2004) 10% per year a LED replacement technology Leakage factor In practice, some proportion of users will move their original fuel-based light to a different location or to use it in conjunction with the new light source. A cautious default substitution efficacy of 50% may be applied (Tracy 2010a). It could be argued that this relocated fuel-based light source is just reducing suppressed demand, and that no carbon penalty should be assessed, however no literal carbon reductions will occur in this event 50% fuel use reduction a…”