Nearly 400 million Indians do not have access to grid electricity as their main source of lighting. According to the Census of India 2011, 43 percent of rural households still use kerosene for lighting. Traditional kerosene based lighting devices are poor sources of light and negatively impact health and the environment. A variety of modern off-grid electric lighting technologies have merged globally over the last decade. These technologies are popular because they are cost-effective, robust and use less energy.
The emergence of these technologies has led to efforts to develop the market for them. IFC’s Lighting Asia/India program plays and active role in transitioning users from fuel based traditional lighting to clean off-grid lighting by supporting development of the market for solar off-grid lighting technologies in India. A strong quality assurance and testing regime will build consumer confidence, improve the quality of products in the market and increase the adoption of solar off-grid lighting. To achieve this, the program has introduced the Lighting Global quality assurance framework in India, adapted to be relevant in the Indian context.
Resource Type: Case Studies & Project Information
Country: India
Language: English