August 2014: Lighting Global has released a study, titled ‘Energy and Carbon Benefits of Pico Powered Lighting,’ which confirms that modern solar lighting products designed for low-income families without access to grid electricity are far more energy efficient than kerosene lamps. Through Lighting Global, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank collaborate to support sustainable growth of the global off-grid lighting market in order to increase access to modern lighting services for people without access to reliable electricity.

The study finds that: replacing kerosene lamps with solar lights would reduce the equivalent of 5% annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the US, or 12% of India’s annual emissions; and quality-verified solar lanterns reduce a family’s consumption of kerosene for lighting by at least 50% and can completely replace kerosene lamps from a household. Approximately 1.4 billion people rely on fuel-based lighting, such as kerosene, which can emit carbon dioxide and black carbon.

The paper addresses: tracking progress from technology transitions; product lifetime and energy payback; and energy return on investment. It also discusses: climate change and fuel-based lighting; black carbon, including inefficiency from kerosene lighting; kerosene consumption and black carbon emissions; black carbon and radiative climate forcing; and black carbon warming and carbon dioxide equivalencies.

The study reviews current research on the life cycle analysis of pico-powered lighting products and the reduction in climate warming emissions that occur when consumers switch from fuel-based to electronic lighting. The results show substantial energy savings and significant reductions in climate warming emissions associated with solar-powered lighting products. The study concludes that, while upfront costs are high, the products pay for themselves many times over from an energy perspective. Quality-verified solar products often have a lifespan of two years, although some last longer. Because of their energy efficiency, they are able to quickly offset energy used in manufacturing and transportation when compared with kerosene lamps.

Shifting energy use would have a climate benefit beyond greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, since estimates of black carbon aerosol emissions from wick lamps are much higher than previously thought and represent a “small but significant” fraction of global emissions. Thus, replacing kerosene-fueled lighting with electronic alternatives would remove this source of climate forcing. The study also points out that many social, economic and health benefits at the local level now coexist with energy and climate benefits on a regional and global scale.

The information presented in the Eco Design Note is a summary of findings from several recent technical papers on energy consumption and climate warming emissions associated with pico-powered solar lighting products and kerosene-fueled lamps. The study is part of a series of Technical and Eco Design Briefing Notes published by Lighting Global to build knowledge on various aspects of modern off-grid lighting products designed and developed for consumers not connected to grid electricity. [Lighting Global Press Release] [Publication: Energy and Carbon Benefits of Pico Powered Lighting] [Lighting Global Website]