Off-grid lighting products that use LED and CFL technology can deliver high-performance, affordable lighting services to low-income people who currently rely on kerosene and other fuel-based lighting sources. The widespread use of modern off-grid lighting technologies can also deliver significant health and environmental benefits by reducing indoor air pollution and CO2 emissions.
Developing a large, dynamic, and sustainable market for modern off-grid lighting will require careful attention to product quality and to the potential for “market spoiling.” Poor quality off-grid lighting products are already entering African markets. Low income end-users unfortunate enough to purchase inferior goods frequently suffer what are, for them, significant financial losses. Moreover, their bad experiences, which spread rapidly by word of mouth and other avenues, can undermine consumer confidence in LED and CFL-based off-grid lighting technology.
In order to address this issue, Lighting Africa has developed a four-part quality assurance strategy which supports market development, provides technical advisary services to quality oriented companies, and protects the interests of low-income consumers. The program strategy does not constrain technological innovation, and recognizes that market segmentation results in a need for a variety of products at multiple price points.
The four main elements of the Product Quality Program:
Lighting Africa is developing standardized testing methods that can be used to evaluate the performance of off-grid lighting products sold in African markets. The goal is to develop a tool that can be used by bulk-purchasing agents, government regulators, NGOs, importers, and other buyers who need to quickly identify good-quality products or verify compliance with minimum performance levels. As described below, the standardized test methods also form the foundation for several additional elements of Lighting Africa’s quality assurance strategy.
A draft of the method is now available for review by industry stakeholders. The document is available for download now. Please click here to review the document and kindly send comments to Lighting Africa before December 11, 2009 by email at qualityassurance@lightingafrica.org.
Lighting Africa is establishing a Product Reviews program in order to provide buyers with reliable, unbiased information about the performance of off-grid lighting products. The reviews will draw from results from laboratory testing using methods associated with the standardized product test method described above, as well as other relevant information such as product pricing. Products with a range of performance levels will be targeted, so that buyers have access to information about the range of high and low quality products in the market. Learn more about the Product Reviews Program
To further support high performing brands, Lighting Africa has established an “Outstanding Products” awards program. This effort is designed to provide public recognition to product lines that hold the best promise to deliver affordable, high quality off-grid lighting to low income people. Announcement of the first round of awards will take place at the Lighting Africa 2010 Global Business Conference and Trade Fair, May 17–20, 2010, in Nairobi, Kenya. The announcements will coincide with a marketing campaign that will benefit award winners. Additional details about the awards program and judging process are available at http://www.lightingafrica.org/awards.
4) TECHNICAL ADVISORY SERVICES
Lighting Africa has recognized that certain technical challenges are recurrent in the design and manufacture of off-grid lighting products. While solutions can be found, in some cases manufacturers lack the capacity to carry out the research required. To address this, Lighting Africa will publish a series of Technical Notes that will address issues related to the design or manufacture of off-grid lighting products. Some notes will present the results of research sponsored by Lighting Africa; others will summarize current best practices. Initial Technical Notes may address some of the following topics:
Best practices: Present technical information on such topics as heat dissipation for LEDs, effective strategies for sourcing quality LEDs, affordable methods for evaluating the performance of solar PV modules, and others.
Component testing: Present and discuss findings from tests commissioned by Lighting Africa on the quality and performance of selected off-grid lighting product components (e.g., test and report on performance of low cost LEDs, NiMH batteries, and other key system components).
Product performance field tests: Present and discuss the findings of technical field tests aimed at assessing consumer perception of certain product characteristics (e.g., When is lumen output considered “too dim?” What are typical use patterns and duty cycles for off-grid lighting products?).
In addition to the Technical Notes, Lighting Africa will also publish a list of certified laboratories that can provide testing services for off-grid lighting technologies and components. These labs will also be invited to participated in Lighting Africa’s web-based business-to-business Marketplace.
These four elements are complementary pieces of a single product quality assurance strategy. The overarching goal is to support the development of a large, thriving, and sustainable market for affordable, high quality off-grid lighting products in African countries. Lighting Africa welcomes feedback about its Product Quality Assurance Strategy, the value of the proposed technical advisory services, and other elements of the program.
