Solar Hackathon

1.2 billion people globally have no access to electricity (World Energy Outlook, 2016). That’s more than the combined population of Europe and the USA. Until now off-grid rural communities have relied on kerosene as a source of light which is not very bright and is expensive relative to household income, produces harmful fumes and poses a fire hazard. LED solar lanterns offer a cleaner and safer alternative lighting source yet most existing solar products are injection moulded in Chinese factories and shipped across the world to countries where the service industry to maintain and repair them is not established and there is no local infrastructure to recycle broken solar products. For off-grid rural communities to really benefit from solar powered lighting we believe that a new approach to manufacturing solar lanterns is required and you can be part of the design team.

On Sunday 5th March 2017, Tribe Porty are teaming up with CREATIVenergie, Love Ghana and the University of Edinburgh, to host Portobello’s first Solar Hackathon. We invite you to join us to collaboratively design a flat pack solar lantern that is robust yet stylish and can be both manufactured and assembled in African countries using recycled materials as much as possible. The impact: creation of local manufacturing opportunities, reduction in air miles and transportation costs, and most importantly a more affordable lighting solution that is cleaner and safer than kerosene lamps.

Numbers are limited, the cost is £20, including refreshments and lunch. If you enjoy the workshop there will be an opportunity to join a team to further develop the product that will be disseminated through an open-source licence. The flat pack solar lamp will be piloted in Kenya by the University of Edinburgh, and in Ghana by Love Ghana during summer 2017.

- See more here