Unique Domestic Solar Appliance  REMIX 

Unique Solar Appliance

Rift Technologies is developing a new solar appliance which can easily be adopted in most homes in Kenya. Our approach is different from the ones we have studied. Normally, appliances which are intended to be used in Kenya are designed with low cost in mind which somehow compromises on the quality and this seems to discourage adoption because they are viewed as meant for lowly communities. Research and Development world wide requires funding to introduce quality new products. And if quality products have to be produced, then this funding should be available to entreprenuers to be able to fulfil their mission. In the long run, the unit cost will definitely come down as usage becomes widespread. Moble phones were initially expensive and today they are affordable.

We have reviewed several designs of solar appliances and discovered limitations for their domestic use. These limitations and consequently the slow pace of adoption in Kenya has also been documented by the Ministry of Roads and Public Works in one of their publications. We have identified one design which seems to approach a more accepatble level and our own design borrows from this particular design.

We intend to distribute the new design through social groups. Women groups are particularly targeted because they will derive benefits related to reduced expenditure on woodfuel, lighting and general heating. Water-borne diseases like typhoid are a big problem here, hence water heating using solar appliance is our immediate target. We have a prototype of this appliance.