Solar energy use in rural Africa

With many communities lacking access to basic necessities such as electricity, clean water, and effective irrigation systems; the innovations in solar powered technologies have led to poverty alleviation projects that combine development strategies and environmental consciousness.

Historically, the high dependency on wood collection from depleting sources have resulted in serious environmental degradation and has been considered an extremely unsustainable practice when compared to the renewable attribute of solar powered cooking.

African development projects, mostly in rural areas seem to be recognizing the real potential of renewable energy sources especially power derived from the sun.

Considering its durability, the CooKit seems to be a good investment: the purchase costs are lower than the money people spend on firewood.

A CooKit can be made in one or two hours and materials needed are cardboard, aluminum foil and non-toxic, water based glue (SCI, 2007c) (see Fig.

In the article by Sambwa et al. (2009),[4] the authors highlight these issues and propose the integration of DC (Direct Current) Motors into solar powered water pumping technology.

2 DC motor drive water pump However one of the main setbacks of relying on used imported technologies is that they prove to be problematic to local engineers and technicians as most of them have already worked for many years before being exported to the continent.

Researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia invented a device in 2019 that can produce solar electricity while simultaneously purifying water.

The PVDI systems were conceived, financed, and installed by an NGO, the Solar Electric Light Fund,[7] to boost vegetable production from communal gardens in an effort to combat high malnutrition and poverty levels in the region.