Off-grid lighting products that use light-emitting diode (LED) and compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) technology can deliver high-performance, affordable lighting for communities that currently rely on kerosene and other fuel-based lighting sources. The widespread use of modern off-grid lighting technologies can deliver significant health and environmental benefits by reducing indoor air pollution and CO2 emissions.

The Taskforce is involved in the mapping of off-grid lighting activities in order to identify the potential for improved coordination and cooperation among existing programs. This process will involve the development of a strategy for the reduction of the environmental impact of the increasing number of off-grid lighting products that are currently available.

The Taskforce will define an effective product quality assurance strategy for off-grid lighting products and ensure that resulting product quality approaches are enforced, while developing harmonized recommendations for governments for CFL and LEDs test methods. The Taskforce will also review best practices to minimize the impact on the environment and human health associated with the entire lifecycle of products, from component manufacture to disposal practices at end-of-life.

A key output of the Taskforce will be a baseline study on net environmental impact of modern off-grid lighting vs. kerosene lighting and low quality battery based lighting products.