21 February 2012
Helps light up world’s youngest country
February 21 2012, Cambridge UK: Eight19, which launched its IndiGo pay-as-you-go personal solar electricity system for off-grid communities in Kenya in September 2011, is moving forward with its plans for expansion and has begun deploying its IndiGo system in South Sudan. Eight19 has partnered with WorldVenture, an international charitable organisation, to deploy the systems in rural villages in the region of Nimule in South Sudan. Eight19 envisage that they will deploy 1000 units in the first half of 2012 to the region. South Sudan is the fourth African country in which Eight19 has deployed IndiGo since its launch into Kenya last September.
The IndiGo units, which consist of a battery, a solar panel, lights and a phone charging device, will bring clean, affordable and renewable power to off-grid communities in South Sudan. This country has recently emerged from civil war as an independent nation and by bringing power to those living off-grid, the WorldVenture/Eight19 initiative aims to stimulate social and economic development and provide the energy to power lighting, Internet connections and electronic devices.
1.6Bn people, over one fifth of the world’s population, lack access to electricity via a grid and pay high prices for kerosene to serve basic needs such as lighting. By combining solar and mobile phone technology, Eight19 is bringing electricity directly to people’s homes thereby by passing the need for a grid connection. By offering solar power as a service, without high purchase costs, these users can now access clean electricity for less than their current spend on kerosene.
Nyungura James Ode, a rural farmer in Nimule explains the impact on his life since having IndiGo installed: “I used to have to go to a market 3km away to buy batteries for my family's battery-powered lanterns and had to charge our mobile phones at charging stations in town twice a week. Now with IndiGo I save about half of the money I would spend on batteries and kerosene and can spend more time at home now that I don’t have to walk to the village and wait for phones to charge. Also, I do not have to worry about the light running out of power when tending to my baby at night.”
Thomas Bell, South Sudan Director of Projects at WorldVenture said: “There is a pressing need for off-grid power in South Sudan, where sometimes the poorest even burn grass despite the smoke health hazard and fire risk, they just are so desperate for an affordable way to have light at night. Eight19’s pay-as-you-go solar is a grass root solution, which is particularly important in South Sudan, where there is a complete lack of infrastructure. IndiGo has the potential to transform the energy market by enabling local energy production meaning that many people can access power without having to wait for the grid. Eight19 has started a revolution in energy provision.”
Simon Bransfield Garth, CEO of Eight19 said “The positive response and widespread interest in IndiGo since we launched it in Kenya six months ago has been fantastic and is fuelling our expansion. Working with local delivery partners, such as WorldVenture in South Sudan, ensures that IndiGo reaches those communities quickly and easily and so bringing immediate benefits. We are working hard to deploy our units fast enough to keep up with the demand to further stimulate economic development in the world’s youngest country.”