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Glowstar
Lantern
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The
African sun is about to shine at midnight: the combined efforts of non-profit
organizations, investors, and technicians have culminated in the production of a
low-cost solar lantern, which would provide poor Africans with a glowing light
to dissipate the darkness of the night. Perhaps the concept of a solar lamp is
not new, but this multi-phase project has shown that with the use of technology,
investors could make a profit if they invest in projects proposed by
organizations that service the poor and strive to improve their quality of life.
Unfortunately,
the existing systems that use solar energy for generating electricity are beyond
the reach of the majority of poor Africans. A study conducted in Kenya has
shown that 96 per cent of poor families use candles and kerosene lamps and that
70 per cent of people spend a considerable portion of their income on dry
batteries used to generate light.
There
are ambitious governmental plans to establish extensive electrical grids to
supply power to villages in many developing countries, but the lack of funds has
and continues to hinder the implementation of these plans, perhaps for decades
to come. Thus an immediate solution for providing light came in the form
of a modified version of a lantern that stores solar energy during the day and
converts it into electrical power at night.
GlowStar
Lights Up the Night
As
funding arrangements were made, the Intermediate
Technology
Development
Group (ITDG), a non-profit organization, reached an agreement with the
British solar energy company, Sollatek, to design, manufacture and produce a new
made-for-Africa version of the solar lantern that is widely used in developed
countries. Sollatek conducted a survey in Kenya to study the needs of consumers
and examine the marketing and manufacturing requirements, which were later
discussed with partners willing to participate in this venture. This survey
enabled designers to determine the exact specifications of the lantern.
The
survey showed that consumers spent the equivalent of 5 pounds Sterling on
kerosene and candles every month. Attempts were made to reduce manufacturing,
marketing and other related costs while maintaining a reasonable profit margin
for investors. These attempts were successful and culminated in the production
of the Glowstar lantern that could be sold for 65 pounds Sterling -- slightly
more than what the average family spends on lighting annually.
Despite
the low cost of the lantern, it was still beyond the reach of many. To make the
lantern more affordable to poorer Kenyans, other marketing strategies were
considered. This led to the introduction of marketing mechanisms and financing
facilities such as co-operative loans, which some local banks agreed to provide
in order to lighten the financial burden on consumers.
Before
starting with the manufacture of the lantern prototype, designers chose the
lantern’s components so that its spare parts could be easily obtained both at
present and in the future. Designers also showed consumers the lantern
that was sold in the West for 250 to 300 pounds Sterling and asked them for
feedback with regard to their expectations. They were promised a more efficient
lantern for only 65 pound Sterling as well as financial assistance to purchase
it.
Take
the Sun With You
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Aladdin’s
Lamp of the New Age
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The
wait was not long; after listening to consumers' needs, designers developed
the prototype. Its specifications in terms of shape, size and other details were
fed into a computer program, and in record time, the lantern was ready and
displayed before consumers.
The
prototype, which was produced under the slogan of “Take the Sun with You”,
withstood Africa’s harsh environmental conditions as it was insect- , dust- ,
and water-proof.
Lantern
Features
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It
can provide high-quality light for four hours or power a radio for 15 hours.
If the lamp and a radio operate simultaneously, the lantern battery will
discharge faster.
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Spare
parts are easily obtainable.
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The
expected life span of the lantern is six years. No maintenance is required,
and the lamp could last for up to 10,000 hours of operation.
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The
casing that houses the lamp is not made of glass and is therefore
unbreakable.
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The
lantern comes with a twelve-month warranty.
The
Design
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The
lantern radiates light with a 360-degree spread.
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It
weighs less than 2.5 kilograms.
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It
comes with a strong carry handle.
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It
has a stable and sturdy base to ensure its stability on any surface.
The
casing that surrounds the lamp as well as many of the lantern’s components are
made of glass-filled polypropylene. This material is similar to high-density
polyethylene, which is known for its robustness in the harsh African climate.
Polypropylene is durable and inexpensive. It is also easily recyclable and thus
friendly to the environment.
To
cater for the mostly uneducated consumers, designers made sure that the lantern
is simple to use: consumers simply need to place the lantern in the sun to
charge the battery during the day, and press a button to power the lamp at
night.
The
Battery
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In the morning, a photovoltaic panel is plugged into the lantern and placed in
the sun to charge the battery; in the evening, it is detached for easy use and
mobility.
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The battery can also be charged when the sky is overcast, but the charge time
will be longer.
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The battery’s storage capacity is sufficient to power the lamp for the
specified time.
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The battery is robust enough to withstand the heavy-duty cycle of daily charge
and discharge.
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The battery does not require any maintenance and is fortified against leakage of
its acidic liquid.
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When disposed of, the battery will have a minimum impact on the environment.
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The battery could be manufactured locally in the future.
Some
prospective consumers had higher expectations and requested that the lantern be
modified and fitted with the following:
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An outlet to supply a small radio with power.
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A low-power indicator that warns users that the battery requires charging.
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An indicator that signals the normal charging of the battery.
As
soon as the improvements were implemented, about 30 modified lanterns were
distributed amongst housewives for a two-month trial period. During this time,
designers visited the homes and got feedback on the lantern using a carefully
drawn up questionnaire.
They
also arranged group sessions with housewives to gather more information about
the usefulness of the lantern and suggestions for additional improvements.
The
feedback received reflected the villagers’ satisfaction with the lantern. It
was clear that the lantern’s selling point was its mobility and sturdiness. In
comparison with kerosene lamps, Glowstar was more economic, cleaner, easier to
use, and less time-consuming. It also provided a better quality light that was
stable; it neither wavered nor got blown out by the wind.
Besides
these features, many additional improvements were made to Glowstar over time.
Aladdin’s
Lamp
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The
lantern supplies solar energy to a small radio.
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The
dream became a reality. However, acquiring the lamp still posed a problem for
many villagers who lived far from cities and could not afford to travel long
distances in order to buy the lantern.
To
address this problem, Sollatek, in cooperation with ITDG, made plans to
establish several outlets close to petrol stations and battery service centers.
But because these outlets were situated in towns far from villages, an agreement
was reached with the government to establish a network of accredited
distributors and sales agents to market the lantern directly to villagers.
According
to a recent study, about 300,000 units will be sold in Kenya when the lantern is
placed on the market. Increased production will lower the manufacturing costs
and sales prices thus increasing the product market.
The
market for the Glowstar lantern is not limited to Kenya alone; it extends to
other African countries as well as some regions in Asia and South America that
are bathed in sunlight during the day. Villagers see Glowstar as
Aladdin’s Lamp, for by lighting up their nights, it lights up their lives.
Read
Also:
*
Hisham Soliman is a staff writer for IslamOnline’s Arabic site and has a
bachelor’s degree from Cairo University’s Faculty of Science.
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