Investigations and tests of LED-based PV-powered lanterns

Currently, 1.6 billion people worldwide do not have access to electricity. For the poorest of the poor, lighting is often the most expensive item in terms of energy use, typically accounting for 10-15% of total household income. Yet, while consuming a large share of scarce income, fuel-based lighting provides little in return. New advancements in lighting technology, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), promise clean, portable and durable lighting at higher-quality and lower-cost. To assess the quality of PV-powered LED lanterns, GTZ and the World Bank have entrusted Fraunhofer ISE with the development of appropriate performance metrics and test procedures. To limit testing costs, a three-level test procedure was developed: (i) a simple visual and function test, (ii) lab measurements of the relevant parameters for all main components and (iii) a luminous maintenance test of the light source. The test procedure was validated in a test of more than ten solar lanterns with GTZ funding; in a second step, the procedure will be further improved through a test of another seventeen solar lanterns which is funded by the World Bank.