This solution provides solar power with the affordability and ease of pay-as-you-go cellphone credit, to deliver effective lighting and device charging for rural communities in developing countries.
Azuri’s entry-level PayGo solar home system provides eight hours of clean, smoke-free lighting each day and the opportunity to charge mobile phones at home. By combining mobile and solar technologies, the system allows payment through mobile phone credit or with scratch-cards. According to the company, the system helps customers cut their weekly energy expenses by 50% or more. Using the system, rural stall-holders are able to stay open later, enabling them to increase sales and boost emerging economies.
Fundamentally, providing access to basic power and the knowledge economy is a tremendously leveling kind of activity.
Simon Bransfield-Garth – CEO, Azuri
Customers can progressively upgrade to larger solar systems over time, to access more electricity and ultimately reach full home electrification. The company also offer a product range with low-power radios and televisions, that customers can choose to purchase with low monthly fees.
Why you should care
Globally, 1.2 billion people lack access to electricity, and are forced to use fossil fuels such as kerosene in simple lamps for basic lighting. These energy sources create indoor air pollution and are a high fire risk. In 2017, Azuri surpassed 100,000 sales of its PayGo system, and raised upwards of $16 million through various financing rounds. In a novel partnership with Raj Ushanga House, Azuri has also raised over 160,000 Euros through TRINE, a growing solar crowdfunding platform, to deploy 1,200 solar systems in Kenya.
How the Global Goals are addressed
Good Health and Well-Being
Kerosene leads to high levels of fine particulate matter, increases the risks of burns - South Africa spends an estimated$ 26 million annually caring for burns resulting from cookstove incidents.
Affordable and Clean Energy
According to a study done by the company, Azuri provides clean energy as a service that saves users over 50% on their fossil fuel energy costs.
Decent Work and Economic Growth
The system enables local businesses to stay open later, improving their revenues, boosting local economies, and contributing to the provision of work opportunities
Reduced Inequalities
According to an independent study, users save 10.8 hours a week on traveling time and expenses to buy kerosene and charge their phones. These savings can be re-invested into better education, healthcare or other tasks which directly benefit their families.
Azuri Technologies
Azuri Technologies is a commercial provider of PayGo solar systems to rural off-grid communities. With the widest reach of any provider in sub Saharan Africa, the company is addressing the problem of energy access which affects the 1.3 billion people around the world who lack access to the grid.
Global Goals addressed