The Power of Design: Product Innovation in Sustainable Energy Technologies

B.1 Introduction

Photovoltaic (PV)–lighting products are increasingly used to provide rural households in developing countries with clean and safe lighting. These households commonly have no access to electricity from a power grid (Legros, Havet, Bruce, & Bonjour, 2009). They currently rely on either kerosene lamps or electricity from car batteries. PV-lighting products deliver a higher quality of service than conventional lighting sources; they are safer and more reliable (Figure B.1.1).

Figure B.1.1 Impressions of solar lighting, in this case the Moonlight manufactured for the Cambodian market

The PV-lighting products that are studied in this case study are designed for use in rural areas in Cambodia, where no electricity grid is currently available. The products are typically smaller than solar home systems in terms of both physical dimensions and energy capacity. There are indications that PV-lighting products are environmentally beneficial when compared to conventional lighting solutions. A method to qualify and quantify such an environmental benefit is through undertaking a life cycle assessment (LCA). This case study uses the LCA framework to assess the environmental impacts of the lighting products considered.

LCA is the process of evaluating the potential effects that a product, process, or service has on the environment over the entire period of its life cycle.

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