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SOLUX e.V. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the introduction of solar lanterns in southern developing countries. During the last years robust solar lanterns have been successfully developed and introduced in cooperation with foreign aid organizations and manufacturers. Two types of solar lanterns are available:
Both types are characterized as follows:
These graphics were developed by students of FH Hannover, Prof. Schwermer. They show the operation of solar lanterns for people who prefer pictures instead of reading.
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In tropical countries darkness begins around 6 p.m. and, with the more agreeable evening temperatures, this time of day can be a time of increased activity. The transition to solar lanterns will allow people to use their evening hours more effectively for both household and commercial activities. In the area of education, improved lighting will make a significant impact.
Compared to the other solutions, a solar lantern provides the biggest benefit for the smallest investment. In the developing countries, they are the only practicable solution to ensure a future supply of lighting. Using solar energy will not only improve the quality of lighting, but it will also prevent the burning of huge amounts of fossil fuels for lighting. Each solar-lantern will save 35 liters of kerosene per year. Imagine, in Africa alone, approximately 1,5 million tons of kerosene are consumed each year. In some countries, the cost of kerosene is already the single largest item on their foreign exchange budget. In third world countries, where kerosene is expensive, the solar lanterns can pay for themselves in a very short period of time. Furthermore, the many accidents, fires and generally unhealthy side effects of kerosene lamps can be avoided.
Unfortunately the common lighting industry does not yet offer a broad scale of solar consumer products for off grid regions. Nevertheless there are some first products from small companies and NGOs especially designed for off grid areas.
Solar lanterns described in this article are designed, produced and distributed by SOLUX e.V., Germany. With the SOLUX concept, Ludwig Bölkow Foundations has developed a program in which the developing countries are involved as partners. As far as possible, the manufacture, maintenance and sale of the SOLUX lanterns is managed by local partners in specially equipped workshops for assembling SOLUX solar lanterns.
This concept not only ensures that people in poorer countries will be able to buy lanterns at reasonable prices, but that they will also be able to manufacture, sell and maintain these lanterns on their own. The SOLUX program presents a new method of work-sharing between North and South, a method that could act as the future model for North-South co-operation. Here, only the high-technology components and materials are imported from industrialized countries, the developing countries assemble these components on-site.
Also commercial companies entered the market of solar lanterns to extend their activities to the so-called bottom-of-pyramid markets. One example is the OSRAM Off-Grid Lighting Solution. This solution is not covered by GrassrootsWiki because it requires the full support of the company to establish and to maintenance it. Therefore, it's not a grassroots technology.
Most information of this article is provided by SOLUX e.V..