Low cost, graduated PAYG solar home systems for Africa

非洲电力公司正在为离网的非洲农村家庭开发负担得起的、可升级的SHS产品系列，并在至少两个国家进行初步的Beta测试，首先是坦桑尼亚和赞比亚。与当地市场上的其他SHS不同，这些低成本系统不需要押金，并且可以完全升级，一旦基本系统得到偿还，就可以包括更多的家用电器，使即使是最贫穷的家庭也能随着时间的推移攀升能源梯队。所有系统都集成了便携式Payg Key-fob，这是一项管理支付和数据收集的创新，使用蓝牙技术在偏远、低连接/无连接的地区进行传输。我们将与我们的研究伙伴进一步对开发更高功率的太阳能系统进行可行性分析，以使离网社区的所有部门都能有效利用电力，包括企业和社区设施，如学校和医疗诊所。成本的降低以及我们成熟的当地合作伙伴的成熟配电模式，将使非洲电力公司能够在撒哈拉以南非洲地区创建可扩展和可行的配电服务，在5年内覆盖200,000户离网家庭。

Africa Power is developing an affordable, upgradeable SHS product line for off-grid rural African households,and conducting initial beta testing in at least two countries, beginning with Tanzania and Zambia. Unlike otherSHS in the local market, these low-cost systems require zero deposits and are fully upgradeable to include moreappliances once the basic system is paid off, enabling even the poorest households to climb the Energy Ladderover time. All systems are integrated with a portable PAYG key-fob, an innovation that manages payment anddata collection, using Bluetooth technology for transmission in remote, low/no-connectivity areas. With ourresearch partners we will further conduct a feasibility analysis for developing higher-powered solar systems toallow the productive use of power for all sectors in an off-grid community, including businesses and communityfacilities such as schools and health clinics. The reduction of costs as well as our proven distribution modelthrough our established local partners, will enable Africa Power to create scalable and viable power distributionservices in Sub-Saharan Africa reaching 200,000 off-grid households in 5 years.