Indigo solar systems in Sudan

THOUSANDS of families in impoverished African countries are benefiting from solar power for just a dollar a week, thanks to a Cambridge company.

Eight19, which launched its IndiGo pay-as-you-go personal solar electricity system for off-grid communities in Kenya last year, is expanding fast and has now begun deploying its IndiGo system in South Sudan – the world’s newest country, which gained independence last July.

The Science Park firm has partnered with international charity WorldVenture to deploy the systems in rural villages in the Nimule region – and forecasts it will deploy 1,000 units to the area in the first half of 2012.

The IndiGo units - consisting of a battery, a solar panel, lights and a phone-charging device - bring clean, affordable and renewable power to off-grid communities. Some 1.6 billion people, over a fifth of the world’s population, lack access to electricity via a grid and pay high prices for kerosene to serve basic needs such as lighting.

By combining solar and mobile phone technology, Eight19 is bringing electricity directly to people’s homes, thereby by passing the need for a grid connection. Customers pay around a dollar a week for the service, which can provide as much as seven or eight hours’ worth of light a day.

Thomas Bell, South Sudan director of projects at WorldVenture, said: “There is a pressing need for off-grid power in South Sudan, where sometimes the poorest people even burn grass despite the smoke health hazard and fire risk. This power solution is particularly important in South Sudan, where there is a complete lack of infrastructure.”

Simon Bransfield Garth, CEO of Eight19, said: “The positive response and widespread interest in IndiGo since we launched it in Kenya six months ago has been fantastic and is fuelling our expansion. Working with local delivery partners, such as WorldVenture in South Sudan, ensures that IndiGo reaches those communities quickly and easily and brings immediate benefits.

“We are working hard to deploy our units fast enough to keep up with the demand to further stimulate economic development in the world’s youngest country.”