Access to Energy for the Base of the - Ashoka

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THE SOLAR ENERGY FOUNDATION (SEF)
Solar Home Systems
Ethiopia
Executive Summary:
Started in 2005, The Solar Energy foundation (SEF) is probably the most ambitious initiative to promote solar energy
lighting in Africa with non-subsidized Solar Home Systems (SHS). Within 5 years, it aims to build an Ethiopian network
of 50 franchised solar centers managed by entrepreneurs trained at the International Solar Energy School in Rema.
Employed solar technicians will be able to install and maintain 50k new SHS per year. SEF brought critical innovations
to help BOP solar industry scale-up: low-cost downsized systems, RFID-card payment schemes and revolving-fund
microfinance.
� Date of creation: 2005
� Main products delivered:
� ST10: 10 Wc, 4 LED + 12V plug ($400 incl.
financing and maintenance)
� ST2: portable solar LED + plug ($50)
� 2,4k rural households served, targets +50k p.a.
within 5 years
� Leadership: Dr. Harald Schützeichel (theologian,
philosopher, musicologist), former CEO of a solar
MNC
� HR (2009): Europe: 3; Ethiopia: 53
� Partners involved:
� Funding: Good Energies, Conrad Electric, Hilti
Foundation, ...
� Teachers: Q-Cells, Phocos, Energiebau
� Revolving fund design: E+Co and Arc Finance
� Operational infrastructure:
� Strategic business development, revolving-fund
raising and management: SEF (Europe)
� International Solar Energy School (ISES), assembly
& logistics, micro-finance and sales &
maintenance (network of 50 “franchised solar
centers” within 5 years): SEF (Ethiopia)
� International sourcing: Sun Transfert
� Marketing & promotion scheme: teaching at school,
mass-media & local advertising campaigns
Project basic information
Dr. Harald Schützeichel,
Founder and CEO
"I wanted to show to the world that even in
the poorest and remotest parts of Africa it
was possible to build a profitable solar
industry. Anywhere else would have been
too easy."
H. Schützeichel