The World Bank has launched a competitive grant programme to support private enterprises, to develop modern lighting products for low income consumers in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Development Marketplace (DM) competition for design and delivery of low cost, high quality, non-fossil fuel-based lighting products programme seeks to reach 250 million people in Sub-Sahara Africa by 2030.
World Bank Energy Sector Manager for Africa, S Vijay Iyer, said grants of up to US$200,000 are to be awarded to the best projects under Lighting Africa initiative competition, to scale up clean energy and development investment framework.
He said in a statement that market research is being initiated in Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana and Zambia, to understand consumer demand, and results are to be available in January 2008 with in-depth details of local supply, marketing, and distribution channels.
The initiative includes the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, other development organisations, local lighting suppliers and service providers.
“Lighting Africa will directly contribute to the Millennium Development Goals and is a cornerstone of the World Bank’s Clean Energy and Development Investment Framework and the Africa Energy Access Scale-up Plan,” Iyer said.
He added that the initiative builds upon the base of lighting technologies that exist today, seeking market solutions to provide an array of products with the quality, applications, costs, or configurations needed by this low income market segment.
The undertaking will use high-tech compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) powered by renewable energy sources like solar and wind power as well as micro gas and mechanical means in areas not connected to the power grid.
About 1.7 billion people worldwide live without electricity. The problem is acute in Sub-Saharan Africa, where over 500 million people have no modern energy, and only two per cent of those living in rural areas have access to any electricity.
World Bank said that lighting is the most expensive item among the poorest people, accounting for 10-15 per cent of total household income, while consuming a large share of scarce income, fuel-based lighting provides little in return.
With expenditures on fuel-based lighting estimated at US$38 billion annually, potential exists to engage international lighting industry while serving consumers, bolstering local commerce, creating jobs, enhancing incomes and improving health.
Kenya Renewable Energy Association Chairman, Vincent Loh, said the competition provides opportunity for African firms to develop lighting products and services tailored to local market needs and conditions.
He added that the competition’s element of the initiative is open to a broad range of innovators, including private businesses, non-governmental organisations, universities, government entities and individuals.
SOURCE: DAILY NATION
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