Individual Home and Business Power

Individual Home and Business Power Overview Lessons Learned Case: Grameen Shakti Enterprise List Grameen Shakti solar panel Grameen Shakti solar panel Overview: Fixed power sources (in homes or businesses) are used to power lights and appliances. Usually solar panels are attached to a house. Sometimes, a fuel cell or battery powers wired-in home systems, and is brought to a central point for recharge (AEDC).

 

Often customized to user needs and income levels, with different numbers and sizes of panels. Fixed systems (i.e. solar panels) are often sold with modular products (i.e. lamps, plugs, etc.) that customers can scale up if they want. Generally 5-50W (can be much higher) to power lamps, mobile phones, radios and sometimes televisions or laptops. Depending on panel size and the number of lights or appliances, systems cost between $100-$2,500 (see Grameen Shakti's pricing list for an idea of range). Grameen Shakti solar panel Grameen Shakti solar panel Even at $100, systems are usually too expensive for users to afford upfront, and are a major purchase. Therefore, financing and service are key to the provision of fixed systems.

 

Financing (see Affordability Models): High upfront costs are often financed either by the enterprise or by a partner microfinance institution. Some enterprises provide in-house financing through a rental model (IDEAAS) or recharging system (AEDC), so customers can pay off the installation cost over time. One challenge with in-house financing is systems are often expensive or politically challenging to remove, which makes it hard to cut power if customers don't pay. Sunlabob and Energy Plus faced this challenge. Service: Most systems require maintenance and parts replacement (batteries, etc.) that customers can’t do on their own and for which infrastructure doesn’t exist independently, so the enterprise must provide this.