Saving money and emissions with solar light systems in Malawi
Malawi, the landlocked nation in southeastern Africa, remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Despite significant attempts to accelerate economic growth, around 80 percent of the population continues to be employed in agricultural activities, with many still subsistence farmers. Due to the low income generated from farming, most Malawians live in energy poverty - with just over 11 percent of households having access to electricity. Instead, many families rely on battery-operated flashlights, kerosene lamps, and firewood. As well as being expensive, kerosene is a fossil fuel that releases greenhouse gasses.
To learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals verified by the standard for this project, please check the project's registry link above.
With its sunny climate, Malawi is an ideal location for harnessing solar power. To tackle the issue of energy poverty in Malawi, the Biolite Solar Lighting project is distributing solar-powered home lighting systems with low-energy LED lightbulbs to individuals, households, and communities across the country. The systems feature batteries that can be charged up and used as and when needed, providing a reliable and greener energy solution than traditional methods of lighting.
As the lighting systems eliminate the need for kerosene lamps and firewood for burning, the project contributes to a significant reduction in greenhouse gasses, as well as a reduction in deforestation. The simple systems improve quality of life, as Malawian households have access to reliable lighting and can save money on flashlights and lamps.
