Rural household lighting markets: Driving the energy 'trilemma' to an end!

Energy access has gained importance in the global development agenda, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Several delivery models have been and continue to be deployed by energy practitioners to address this issue.

One such model looks at market based solutions to reach households at the bottom of the pyramid (BoP) with small solar systems (PicoPV). However, in order for families to be able to access energy services, the affordability aspect must be taken into consideration across the entire distribution chain. Despite efforts towards this goal having been undertaken throughout sub-Saharan Africa, there is still a lot more to be done to achieve not only mere energy access but energy security. Concerns remain about the sustainability of delivery models and the chances of survival beyond a project’s life. The Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) has developed PicoPV distribution models which, by forming links between businesses and promoting mutually beneficial relations, facilitate flexible payment methods for end-users and therefore enable financing along the value chain, ultimately allowing people to access affordable products.