lose to seven million people in Africa without electricity now have access to clean lighting as a result of the joint efforts of the Lighting Africa program, and its partners, to develop markets for quality, solar lights.

Results just in show program-supported manufacturers and distributors operating in Africa’s off-grid lighting market sold more than 600,000 lanterns in the six months to December 2012.

Cumulatively, the sales of quality-assured solar lights in 2012 grew by 120% over volumes sold in 2011.

“This continued bullish growth in sales volumes bespeaks a massive unmet need for clean lighting in rural un-electrified Africa, and represents a vast business opportunity for investors and entrepreneurs,” says IFC’s Lighting Africa Program Manager, Itotia Njagi.

It is estimated that only between 35% and 40% of people in Africa are connected to national electricity grids, the rest relying on expensive and polluting fossil fuels such as kerosene, for their lighting needs.

According to Lighting Africa’s soon-to-be published Africa Market Study, the Africa off-grid lighting market has been doubling sales of quality-assured solar lighting products every year for the last three years.

The program has developed a quality assurance framework that includes test methods and quality standards. The quality framework is designed to encourage truth-in-advertising and product quality while also allowing for innovation.

Over the past three years, an increasing number of companies have submitted products for testing. To date, approximately 150 products have been tested using the rigorous quality assurance framework known as Lighting Global Quality Test Method (LG-QTM), results showing that quality and performance of products coming to market are improving rapidly.

“This is an indication that the program’s quality guidelines and specifications are gradually gaining acceptance in the design of the new products entering the market as well as providing consumers with a wide choice across an equally wide price range,” says Mr Itotia.

As part of its market development activities, Lighting Africa undertakes a range of research studies on the technical aspects of producing high quality lights for rural Africa and product sustainability concerns. The program also undertakes market surveys to equip investors and distributors with pertinent market intelligence.

In 2012, the program published the findings of two studies on kerosene; the first examined the actual cost of kerosene in rural Africa while the second looked specifically at Kenya, exploring the household lighting fuel cost in the country.
Additionally, as part of its “market intelligence” services, the program published the findings of a five-country study on looking at the availability of rechargeable batteries for solar lanterns to inform manufacturers on availability of replacement components, and potential markets for parts and spares for modern solar lights.

On the sustainability issue, the program launched a new Eco Design Notes series in 2012, the first examining the issue of battery toxicity and eco-friendly product design.

It looked at the various battery types used in off-grid solar lights comparing the hazards each presents to human health and the environment, and made recommendations on how manufacturers can minimize pollution through product design, disposal and recycling.

The second Eco Design Note examined the pertinent issue of LED Lights and Eye Safety.