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Off-Grid Country Lighting Assessments Launched for 80 Countries
Globally, over 1.3 billion people live without access to electric light. Replacing the millions of kerosene lamps, candles and flashlights used worldwide with modern solar lighting can provide an increasingly low-cost solution to reducing carbon emissions, indoor air pollution and health risks, and boosting green jobs.
en.lighten has published Country Lighting Assessments for 80 countries which quantify the economic and environmental gains that can be achieved through a shift from fuel-based light sources to solar-powered alternatives. Approximately 25 billion litres of kerosene and 1.4 million tons of candles are used annually for off-grid lighting, costing end-users between US$25 and 33 billion each year. This has an even higher price tag if government subsidies are taken into account. These light sources also contribute over 70 million of carbon dioxide annually – and yet cost effective alternatives are commercially available that are less expensive on a life-cycle basis and have no CO2 emissions.
In addition to saving money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, phasing out kerosene lamps and candles greatly reduces risks from burns, fires, and respiratory illnesses caused by indoor smoke. Eliminating the need for flashlights powered by disposable batteries will also greatly reduce hazardous waste disposal in landfill and related environmental damage.
The Country Lighting Assessments are the first of their kind to attempt to quantify the magnitude of financial savings, health benefits, development and carbon emission reductions that a coordinated global transition to modern and sustainable off-grid lighting solutions can deliver.
More information can be found on LuminaNet.
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