Namene Solar today announced the certification of a new project in Zambia that unlocks the carbon value of a solar light to offer customers truly affordable, high-quality solar lighting for the first time. The lights will reach over 1.5 million people living in rural households, with no access to electricity, and will be financed by the sale of carbon credits.

Namene Solar will distribute their award-winning SM100 solar lights to rural homes and in collaboration with local schools across four provinces of Zambia: Western, Southern, Eastern and Lusaka.

Namene Solar Managing Director Patrick Lagrange said: “A clean solar light is life-changing in the hands of a rural family in Zambia. It’s more than just a source of light, it has many positive social impacts. These lights provide access to modern energy, cut carbon emissions from kerosene lamps and unlock extra study hours for children to safely do homework after dark. They
prevent toxic fumes that are harmful to health and eliminate the dangers of open flame lighting. That’s why Namene Solar is committed to bringing affordable, clean, safe solar light wherever it is needed.”

Namene Solar’s new project is the first Gold Standard-certified solar project in Zambia. In total 652,000 solar lights will be distributed, benefiting 1.5 million people – 9% of the total population of Zambia. The project saves households more than $150 USD, and each light avoids 92kg in carbon emissions every year.

The project directly contributes to several of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG1: no poverty; SDG7: universal clean energy and SDG13 climate action. The solar lights also have multiple, immediate benefits for users which include
improving education outcomes and reducing health risks associated with kerosene lamps. The Gold Standard-certification comes one year after Namene Solar was awarded a British Award for African Development for Innovative Business Model of the Year.