STRICTLY BUSINESS
POWER
PNG POWERS UP A solar-power scheme is shedding new light in remote areas, Kevin McQuillan reports.
Hitting the right note ... Barefoot Power is providing affordable and renewable energy in developing countries (above).
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arefoot Power assists people in developing countries with access to affordable renewable energy – with the focus firstly on providing lighting. It has been operating in Kenya, the Philippines, rural India and Uganda since 2008, although Papua New Guinea was its testing ground 11 years ago. “We used PNG in the early days because of its climate and conditions, and it proved a good test bed because our products are now very reliable,” says Rick Hooper, the chief executive officer of Barefoot. Hooper says the key to successfully run solar energy is to have “available” sunlight hours and that with PNG being close to the equator there is an average of 10 to 11 hours of sunlight a day. “Solar systems are designed around having six hours of solar sun per day, so in PNG you’re able to recharge your system quite effectively because you have such long sunlight hours.” In March, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill committed to putting a solar lighting kit in
every classroom and every teacher’s house in areas in his electorate without access to town power. Barefoot Power local PNG agent, Solar Solutions PNG, began operations over two years ago. “All our products are sold in kit form, and we’re seeing growing interest in the larger kits, the household kits, which give you four lights and phone charger capability, plus the ability to run a 12-volt fan, TV or radio,” says managing director, Jon Pittar. “The market here is a little more sophisticated than some of the other starter markets in Africa, as we are selling many more of the larger kits than the single lights, which can only light one room in a house. Solar Solutions PNG is also selling security lights, street lights, vaccine fridges and solar hot-water systems. “In the villages, our customers are families who don’t have access to the grid. “A 30-watt kit consists of a solar panel using 12-volt battery that will run four lights for a family home, which usually consists