More than 2 billion people are without electrical power
In Africa there are appr. 50 million petrol lamps in use

Characteristics of petrol lamps
Poor performance
Smell and smoke harasses health
Fire hazard
Appr. 80 kg CO₂ emission per year/per lamp
Appr. 3 Litres paraffin oil/kerosene per month/per lamp
Appr. 3 € monthly cost for fuel (monthly salary of a teacher appr. 60 €)

Alternative: Solar lamp SOLAR 2007-1 (especially constructed for use in developing countries)
5 times brighter light than light of kerosene lamp
absolutely no health harassment
no whatsoever danger
no CO₂-emission
sturdily built
high running safety (e.g. overcharge and short-circuit proof etc.)
simple assembling of the construction kit in developing countries
low cost tool kit
high acceptance by potential users due to high quality
high initial investment: appr.100 € (2 monthly salaries of a teacher) make a sale to potential users practically impossible

Immediate availability of the solar lamp for users without timely moneysaving period
Solar lamps will not be given to users for free to integrate users into financing system and enforce responsibility:

Rent-charges of about the amount for present petrol cost
Affordable deposit payment upon take over of lamp to ensure appropriate handling of lamp and empower the financial basis of the project

Creation of highly qualified and stable jobs for local people
Secure service, maintenance and ecologically correct recycling of used batteries
Step by step development of a well performing organisation
Developing long term financial possibilities for community tasks, e.g. financing of school tuition fees for children, pay for equipment for schools, schoolbooks etc., building wells, reforestation, financing seeds and fertilisers etc.....
Possible roll-out for further products as there are solar cookers etc.
At the same time train users of solar lamps in environmental protection, improve the awareness for importance to conserve energy and reduce CO₂ -emissions

To implement a rent-system the following preconditions are essential:

- Launch financing of the project by project agency for

Workshop equipment (room, workbench, shelves, bicycle,...)
Tool kit for SOLAR 2007-1
200 (or more) assembly kits and solar modules
workshop and personnel cost for at least 3 months
local organisation
training of organisation members and workshop employees

Present situation in Tanzania:

Based on the above calculation when surplus (income minus all costs) is reinvested the following development can be achieved without further finance from outside:

Relates to a project in Mpwapwa (Tanzania) running since October 2001 leasing 130 lamps SOLAR 2000). The results are absolutely pleasing:

very high acceptance of the solar lamps resulting in a strong requirement for further lamps
prompt receipt of monthly payments
very good acceptance of the proposed rent-system
no problems with organisation and procedure

Due to the positive experience with the leasing system the "2. Target of the rent-system" can practically be reached.
The acceptance of the product and the financing system is absolutely essential. Where as it is absolutely important to regard the regionally different cultural, social and economical conditions.
In many countries the currency is unconvertible. Then it seems the system cannot work. But also there is a solution for the problem.
Essential requirements for the success of the rent system are a sufficient launch financing and most of all locally a well performing organisation.
Here it can be of great advantage to recruit already existing local partners.
We would appreciate very much if potential project agencies show interest in our product and the rent system. We invite you to discuss possible co-operation with us.

To judge the financial development of a projects the knowledge of the actual prices of the solar system and the following parameters is essential (costs/prices converted to €):

custom and taxes for import of the solar system
present monthly costs for light (paraffin oil, kerosene)
desired daily hours of light
possible initial deposit
suggested monthly rent charge (minus administration fee)
local logistic costs
training costs for service and assembling personnel as well as project managers
ongoing costs for workshop (e.g. rent for room, electricity, logistics, communication, ...) including personnel costs
installation costs for solar module (including incidental expenses)
number of locally applicable lamps (number of users interested who can be reached with existing transport means e.g. bicycle, motor bike, car)
radio desired
planned budget of launch financing
special side issues

An individual project plan can be issued in co-operation with the project agency based on these information.

Workshop equipment, construction kits, construction guides, and organisational means can be obtained from solarprojekt-freilassing. The training of the project manager will take place in Freilassing, Bavaria, Germany. The training of the workshop personnel could be executed locally by members of SES (Senior-Expert-Service).