Greenlight Planet produces solar-powered lamps to light up rural villages

Electricity shortage is a major problem around the world especially in the continents of Asia and Africa. Some rural regions are still deprived of electricity and about 1.5 billion people are dependent on kerosene lamps. However, a Chicago-based company known as the Greenlight Planet has taken the initiative to help this large population of off-grid villagers by providing them with affordable and safe solar-powered lamps. The company was founded back in 2009 and since then it has sold 1.8 million solar lamps. Costing between $11 and $40, about one million of these lamps were sold during the last 10 months only. The company hopes to sell 4 million lamps this year and expects to reach 16 million homes by 2016.

Patrick Walsh, the founder of the company came up with idea of a socially driven energy company in 2005 and with several years of hard work and with the help of two former University of Illinois classmates he raised funds for the project and launched the company. The solar-powered lamps are produced in China and come in four different lamp models. The lamps come in sizes ranging from 4.5 to 6 inches in diameter depending on the model. Each lamp is provided with three settings which on a full day’s charge offers between 24 to 30 hours of light.

Via: CNN Money