access: energy is on a mission to help bring energy to East Africa by using locally-sourced materials to build wind turbines. The Night Heron Wind Turbine produces power two to three times cheaper than the equivalent from solar PV and can provide enough power for 50 rural homes.
The firm has developed a lease model that allows the customer to establish their own renewable energy powered business like battery charging stations or offering refrigeration services to fishermen. access: energy takes care of all the maintenance with the customers using mobiles to pay a monthly fee. The model costs nearly $2,050 which includes the turbine, mast, batteries, wiring, installation, delivery, and commissioning. The 2.5-kWh per day application can be purchased or leased on an approved payment plan.
The project is similar to Eight19’s IndiGo, featured in Alternative Energy Africa that offers a pay-as-you-go method for solar power. access: energy has begun its product release in Kenya, but plans on expanding to other East African countries.
Alternative Energy