A report outlines the opportunity to extend the life of off-grid solar products in rural communities.
The global off-grid solar industry should invest more in product repair approaches to improve energy access in remote communities. That's the main finding of a new report into off-grid solar repair, which says the sector needs to focus on strategies that extend product lifespans and reduce wastage.
Over the past decade, there has been a boom in household solar products, providing safe and affordable electricity to off-grid and hard-to-reach communities in developing countries. But these products are also quick to fall into disrepair.
The State of Repair in the Off-Grid Solar Sector report, co-authored by UNSW Sydney researchers in partnership with Solar Aid, surveyed 75 stakeholders in the solar sector from companies and organisations operating in 31 countries about their repair ethos and practices. The report found that 90 per cent of all off-grid distributors have some form of repair service but are hindered by a lack of available spare parts, modular designs, limited consumer protections and inadequate repair training.
"If these products can be repaired, people will have better and more consistent access to light and electricity at the household level," says Associate Professor Paul Munro, co-author of the report from the School of Humanities & Languages at UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture. "It would reduce waste flows in countries where facilities are often quite limited for recycling or processing waste, and from an industry perspective, help to restore its sustainability and reputation."
