A great solution of $ 6 helps to bring electricity to millions of poor people

Off-Grid Electric is a non-profit startup company that aims to use cheap solar panels to supply electricity to rural areas of Africa.

Off-Grid Electric is a non-profit startup company that aims to use cheap solar panels to supply electricity to rural areas of Africa.

The biggest obstacle to providing electricity for remote areas is infrastructure. In sparsely populated areas, the key issue to address is the lack of power lines. Because there is no link to the electricity network, many parts of the world cannot use electricity, must live with the night. But there are ways to solve this problem.

Picture 1 of A great solution of $ 6 helps to bring electricity to millions of poor people

Off-Grid Electric's M Power System.

Off-Grid Electric is a non-profit startup company founded by Xavier Helgesen in 2012. The company aims to use cheap solar panels to supply electricity to rural areas of Africa. , instead of building expensive electrical infrastructure. Helgesen came up with the idea of ​​opening an Off-Grid Electric company during a trip to the Republic of Malawi to meet with a partner for the book-selling company he was working with at the time.

Picture 2 of A great solution of $ 6 helps to bring electricity to millions of poor people

The company aims to use cheap solar panels to supply electricity to rural areas of Africa.

In the village of Malawi where he came without electricity at all, even though some villagers own electrical equipment, people here only use oil lamps because they are not exposed to electricity, it is is what drives Helgesen to start a company.

Picture 3 of A great solution of $ 6 helps to bring electricity to millions of poor people

The solution that Off-Grid brings is the payment program according to ability.

The solution that Off-Grid brings to remote rural people is a pay-as-you-go program, with at least 6 USD, people will be installed with M Power system with a battery. Solar energy on the roof, along with a measuring device for them to know how much electricity they used, they were also given LED bulbs, radios, and phone chargers.

Picture 4 of A great solution of $ 6 helps to bring electricity to millions of poor people

Installing M-power system.

Customers will pay according to the amount of power they use, they can also pay through the application on the phone. In an interview with NPR, Helgesen said his company keeps a close eye on how people use electricity.

When assembling energy panels for customers, the company knows that it should not ask how many watts a month they will use because many people will not know the meaning of this number. Instead, the Off-Grid will ask which device they want to use the device for. That way, the company will provide customers with a more effective solution.

Picture 5 of A great solution of $ 6 helps to bring electricity to millions of poor people

Off-Grid is currently focusing on bringing electricity to the regions of the United Republic of Tanzania.

The Off-Grid says that each month the company has supplied electricity to about 50,000 households, the Helgesen's goal is to bring electricity to 1 million households in Africa in 2017. The Off-Grid is currently focusing on bringing electricity to The regions of the United Republic of Tanzania, the company also plans to expand electricity to Rwanda in 2017 and bring electricity to areas outside Africa in the future.

Picture 6 of A great solution of $ 6 helps to bring electricity to millions of poor people

Complete set of Off-Grid products.

Off-Grid is not the first company to bring solar power to rural areas and developing areas. In the past, some companies, such as Watly, had to offer electricity, water, Wi-Fi to poor people, or M-Kopa to bring electricity to rural Africa.

There are many ways to solve the problem of bringing electricity to people in remote areas, where the conventional electricity grid is inaccessible. As long as companies listen to users' needs, there will be appropriate technology solutions.

Update 12 December 2018
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