Pico-solar Electric Systems : The Earthscan Expert Guide to the Technology and Emerging Market

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the technology behind the pico-solar revolution and offers guidance on how to test and choose quality products. The book also discusses how pioneering companies and initiatives are overcoming challenges to reach scale in the marketplace, from innovative distribution strategies to reach customers in rural India and Tanzania, to product development in Cambodia, product assembly in Mozambique and the introduction of 'pay as you go' technology in Kenya. Pico-solar (power output ranges from 0.1 watt-peak (Wp) up to 10-15 Wp) is a new category of solar electric system which has the potential to transform the lives of over 1.6 billion people who live without access to electricity. Pico-solar systems are smaller and more affordable than traditional solar systems (30 - 50 Wp) and have the power to provide useful amounts of electricity to charge the increasing number of low power consuming appliances from mobile phones, e-readers and parking metres, to LED lights which have the power to light up millions of homes in the same way the mobile phone has connected and empowered communities across the planet. The book explains the important role pico-solar has in reducing reliance on fossil fuels while at the same time tackling world poverty and includes useful recommendations for entrepreneurs, charities and governments who want to participate in developing this exciting and rapidly expanding market. AUTHOR: John Keane is Managing Director and a founding member of SunnyMoney, the largest distributor of pico-solar lighting products in Africa. Previously, he was Head of Programmes for SolarAid, the international NGO that set up and owns SunnyMoney. Publisher's note Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 6 Illustrations 8 Preface 14 Acknowledgments 18 List of Abbreviations 20 1. Introducing Pico-Solar 22 Pico-Solar – A New Category of Solar Electric Power 22 Pico-Solar Components 24 The Multibillion Dollar Pico-Solar Market 26 Kerosene’s Impact on Global Warming 29 Power to Transform Lives 31 Overcoming Traditional Barriers to Solar Uptake 32 Trends 33 Maturing Market 34 2. The Solar Resource 36 Solar Power – Putting the Sun’s Energy to Work 36 Solar Radiation Principles 37 Direct and Diffuse Radiation 39 Solar Irradiance 40 Solar Incident Angle 40 Insolation 40 Electricity Basics 41 3. Solar PV Cells and Modules 44 The Solar Cell 44 How Solar Cells Work 44 The Solar Module 45 Module Ratings 47 Output of Solar Modules 48 The I-V curve 48 Effects of Radiation Intensity on Module Output 49 Effects of Heat on Module Output 49 Effects of Shading on Module Output 50 Effect of Module Positioning on Output 51 Types of PV Modules 52 Monocrystalline Silicon 53 Polycrystalline Silicon 55 Thin Film 55 PV Wiring and Junction Boxes 56 PV Module Price Trends 58 Solar PV Innovation 58 4. Batteries 60 Introduction to Batteries 60 Battery C-Rates 63 State of Charge (Soc) 64 Depth of Discharge (DoD) 66 Self-Discharge 67 Battery Chemistries 67 Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) 69 Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) 69 Sealed Lead-Acid (SLA) 70 Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd) 71 Innovation 72 5. Lighting 74 Lighting Principles and Measurements 74 Luminous Flux 74 Luminous Intensity 74 Illuminance 74 Luminous efficacy 75 Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) 75 LED development 77 White Light and Efficiency 78 Environmental Impact 78 LED Price Trends 79 LED Lighting Innovation 79 6. Appliances and Energy Use 80 Powering Small Appliances 80 Calculating Energy Needs 83 Daily Energy Demand 83 Calculating Module Size and Battery Capacity 84 Step 1: Calculating Energy Requirement 85 Step 2: Calculating the Module Size 85 Module Output 87 Module Size 87 Step 3 Calculating Battery Size 88 Compromising PV Module Size in Portable Solar Chargers 88 Portable Electronic Appliances 89 Indirect Charging (through a Pico-Solar-Charged Rechargeable Battery) 89 Direct Charging from a Pico-Solar Module 90 Mobile Phones, Smartphones and Cameras 90 Radios 92 E-readers 93 Tablet Computers 94 Mobile Televisions 95 Pico-Projectors 95 Lighting 97 Pico-Solar Phone 98 Laptops and Notebooks 98 Solar Backpacks 100 Solar Parking Meters 100 Larger DC Solar Systems 102 7. Product Quality 106 Standards and Quality Marks 106 Product Life and Warranty 107 Product Performance 107 International Classifications 107 Product Testing 107 The Eyeball Test 109 Home Laboratory Tests 111 Test Light Output 111 Autonomous Run Time Test 113 Laboratory Tests 114 8. Using, Maintaining and Repairing Pico-Solar Systems 118 Selling Pico-Solar Responsibly 118 Ensuring Customers Receive Fully Charged Products 118 Minimise Time in Transit 118 Check Battery State of Charge (SoC) 119 Educating Customers 119 Day-to-Day Use and Maintenance 119 Understanding Benefits 122 Customer Service 122 Warranties and Guarantees 123 Spares and Repairs 124 Troubleshooting 124 Basic Repairs 125 Battery Replacement 125 Example of Battery Replacement 126 Module Replacement or Repair 127 Replacing the Cable of a Pico-Solar Module 128 Replacing a Module Cable 128 9. The Impact of Pico-Solar in Developing Countries 130 Light for Development 130 The Situation 130 Impact of Pico-Solar 133 Economic 133 Household Savings 133 Business Opportunities 134 Health and Safety 134 Indoor Air Pollution 134 Health and Younger Children 136 Fires and Burns 136 Poisoning 136 Health Improvement Linked to Income 137 Education 137 Environment 139 Well-Being 139 Communications 139 Summary 141 Notes 142 10. Selling Pico-Solar at the Base of the Pyramid 144 Challenges in Reaching the BoP Market 144 Logistics and Supply Challenges 146 Distribution 148 The Pico-Solar Market 149 Need for Efficient Value Chain 150 Financial Barriers and Solutions 150 Financial Constraints – Manufacturers, Distributors and Retailers 150 Finance Barriers and Solutions for Customers 154 Overcoming Upfront Costs 154 Pay as You Go (PAYG) Pico-Solar 155 Rental Solutions 158 Pico-Solar Loans 158 Marketing at the BoP 159 Creating Customer Awareness 159 Brands 160 Customer Service (After-Sales Service) 161 Product Warranties 161 Training, Repairs and Spare Parts 162 Product Quality 162 Import Taxes and Tariffs 163 Product Disposal and Recycling 164 Policy and Market Facilitation – The Role of Government 165 11. Case Studies 168 Case Studies from Africa 169 Case Study: SunnyMoney – Reaching Scale in East and Southern Africa 169 How is This Rapid Growth Being Achieved? 169 Case Study: fosera – Manufacturing in Mozambique 172 Case Study: Toyola Energy Limited – Ghana, West Africa 174 Worldreader: Powering E-Readers in Ghana and Beyond 176 Case Studies from India 179 Greenlight Planet: Direct-to-Village (DTV) Distribution 179 Orb Energy 182 Case study from Cambodia 184 Kamworks – Creating Lighting Solutions 184 Case Study from the Philippines 187 The Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF) 187 Multiple Loans 188 Incentivising Sales 189 Customer Default 189 12. Resources 190 Further Reading 190 Industry Bodies, Initiatives and Programmes 190 Lighting Africa, Lighting Asia and Lighting Global 190 LuminaNET 191 Global Off-Grid Lighting Association 191 Global LEAP 192 Sustainable Energy for All 192 sun-connect 192 International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 192 Selection of Pico-Solar Companies Specialising in Lighting Products for the Base of the Pyramid (BoP) Market 193 Bibliography 194 Glossary 198 Index 202 This book introduces the reader to the world of picosolar-a new category of small solar devices, lanterns and systems which are being used across the world to power the new generation of energy efficient appliances.