RURAL ENERGY
Solar solutions
Alternative energy for off-grid families
Look at an aerial photograph of Myanmar at night, and you won’t see much. It is estimated that 95% of the rural population live completely off the grid. This means that when the sun sets — sometimes as early as 6pm — they are forced to rely on expensive, and unreliable, candles and battery systems for their activities.
Proximity’s solar lanterns offer a cheaper, longer-lasting, greener and brighter alternative.
Rural Energy
Brighter lights, bigger incomes
Launched: 2012
Total Number Sold: 8,838
Projected unit sales in 2013: 25,000
Solar lights have become one of our fastest sellers - tapping into a real need for cheap, sustainable lighting options in rural areas. We’re currently offering three different lights, all of which are designed in the U.S. by d.light Designs. The cheapest is sold at just US $10.50 but has a life expectancy of at least two years, and it cuts lighting costs by 60%. With the added hours of productivity that bright, longer lasting, more reliable lighting offers, incomes are also expected to rise.
Sales started in 2012 in selected areas, and we launched them nationwide through our existing distribution channels at the end of the year. Although they’ve only been on the market a short time, we’ve already heard loads of stories about the impact they’re having. From helping to deliver babies, to lighting workshops so families can work more in the cooler evening hours. From children’s grades improving due to increased study hours, to farmers being able to transport their goods at night and arrive in time for the morning markets. Read about some of them on our blog, and on the Our Customers page.
In August 2012, we signed up to the Myanmar government initiative to help reduce carbon emissions by 1% by 2016. With a potential reachable market of 9 million people, Proximity’s solar lanterns could play a huge part in helping to hit this target.
