Elisabeth Rosenthal's piece
African Huts Far From the Grid Glow With Renewable Power, in the
NYTimes Beyond Fossil Fuels series, spotlights the emergence of sustainable solar and other energy solutions to bring first light to those previously living without electricity...
"As small-scale renewable energy becomes cheaper, more reliable and more efficient, it is providing the first drops of modern power to people who live far from slow-growing electricity grids and fuel pipelines in developing countries. Although dwarfed by the big renewable energy projects that many industrialized countries are embracing to rein in greenhouse gas emissions, these tiny systems are playing an epic, transformative role. Since Ms. Ruto [in Kiptusuri, Kenya] hooked up the system, her teenagers’ grades have improved because they have light for studying. The toddlers no longer risk burns from the smoky kerosene lamp. And each month, she saves $15 in kerosene and battery costs -- and the $20 she used to spend on travel. In fact, neighbors now pay her 20 cents to charge their phones, although that business may soon evaporate: 63 families in Kiptusuri have recently installed their own solar power systems."
And more solutions are emerging. Be sure to check out our MIT alumco's addressing this opportunity, including
Global Cycle Solutions,
EGG Energy,
STG International,
Sanergy, and
SULICO. And see the accompanying
NYTimes Power off the Grid videoreport...
No comments:
Post a Comment