The Operating Concept for Photovoltaic Lighting Systems

There are different approaches of using photovoltaic lighting in regions without electricity, different in respect to the technical effort and the financial investment required. These differences are outlined below.

A: Energy supply for an entire village

A large solar-system can be used to provide electricity for an entire village. This requires cabling, distributors, fuses and meters; a system that is very expensive and needs constant maintenance.

B: The Solar Home System (SHS)

Each building has its own solar-system, a so called “Solar Home System” (SHS). Many disadvantages of solution A are avoided, but a SHS is also expensive and most people in developing countries are unable to finance it on their own.

C: Solar mini-lantern

A solar mini-lantern, such as SOLUX, is designed to illuminate enough light for a single room. The lantern is mobile and very cost efficient to use. Depending on the price of kerosene the solar lantern can be amortized in one year simply by avoiding fuel costs.

Compared to solution A and B, a SOLUX mini lantern provides the biggest benefit for the smallest investment.