Safaricom, Chief Executive Officer, Bob Collymore (right) and Jesse Moore, Managing Director, M-Kopa Solar Solutions during the launch of solar kits. Photo/File
The darkness sets in and the solar lighting posts on Forest road, Nairobi suddenly light up; clearly demonstrating the transformation being witnessed in some parts of Nairobi and other towns away from the city.
Solar lighting is quickly becoming an integral part of our everyday life going by the interest people and institutions have shown for it in the recent past.
Unlike three years back when it was hard to envision the acceptance of this type of lighting, today people are heeding to the call to go green and at the same time save on power costs, with companies dealing in solar energy such as Go Solar Systems Ltd, Philips with the LED solar lighting, Chloride Exide, Davis and Shirtliff Group, KenGreen Enegry, Safaricom and Solar Frique also trying to ensure uptake by making the cost of solar systems as affordable to Mwananchi as possible.
The increased interest in solar energy, experts reckon is fuelled by the necessity to have a convenient alternative, which can supplement hydro power thereby bringing down the huge electricity bills.
It is this need to complement hydropower that the government through the National Energy policy draft, 2012 came up with regulation to guide the sector.
The policy’s mission is to facilitate provision of clean, sustainable, affordable, reliable and secure energy at the least cost, while at the same time taking care of the environment.
Initially, the cost of installing solar was beyond the reach of most Kenyans but since 2012, the cost has dropped significantly and continues to drop further as more providers enter the local market.
No bills
“Solar is no longer expensive, the only expensive thing may be the initial installation but you will recoup this in the long-run because you will no longer pay bills apart from the money used on maintenance,” says John Kibiru, Ken Green’s technical manager, a local renewable energy provider.”
“It also has a return on investment in the form of zero power bills for those that are fully dependent on solar.”
To get more customers on board, solar solution providers have become innovative, offering several models to consumers at a pocket-friendly cost to ensure uptake.
Among the products that match modern clients’ needs is a portable solar charger for electronic gadgets such as the iPhone, iPad, phones and laptops and portable lighting systems.
The portable charger comes in a 170x95x25mm product size and a weighs 430 grams. It uses natural lighting instead of the sun with only three hour light exposure giving several hours of light.
This means you do not have to put the gadget under direct sunlight to get lighting. All you need is a well-lit area and it will capture the light and store it for later use.
Other specifications include; 15 interchangeable tips to fit HP, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, Acer, SONY, Toshiba and other laptop brands charging ports, high solar energy convert efficiency of over 16 per cent and 2A charging current. The gadget goes for Sh26,000.
Convenient
The Betta lighting system by KenGreen Energy is a simple maintenance-free solar power system able to light up to eight rooms.
The systems charges any brands of phone, has 12-15 hours of continuous lighting, 22 years life span and a battery life of 10 years. Installation is done with the use of a diagram and instructions on the package so anyone can do it at home if they are able to read the instructions.
The system is convenient for small households and offices. It can also be used in camping facilities. Betta solar lights cost a minimum of Sh13,000.
M-KOPA in partnership with Safaricom also sells solar lights on loan. The M-kopa light has three LED bulbs and five phone charging tips.
The light strength can be adjusted four times with the fourth adjustment being the brightest. The solar panel is charged using natural lighting.
The systems cost Sh14,900 for cash buyers and Sh16,900 on hire purchase. The repayment period for the loan is 12 months. However, a deposit of Sh2,500 has to be made before you can get the loan. The customer keeps the lighting system and makes daily payments of Sh40 on Mpesa.
Other than lighting, solar water heating systems are a must-have because of the high energy consumption used by electric water heaters.
The energy policy draft, 2012 makes it mandatory for developers and home owners to install solar water heating equipment in residential buildings within the local authority jurisdiction where 100 litres of water a day is heated.
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