May 13, 2016

Senegal: Lighting the way for off-grid communities

Listen Later

11 minutes

In this new episode of "Down to Earth", we head to Senegal, where only three out of five households have access to electricity

Senegal gets an impressive nine months of uninterrupted sunshine every year but solar technology is still finding its feet.

Today much hope - and money - rests on the success of what's known as nanogrids, small independent energy systems that power several homes.

Among the new players, French entrepreneur Thomas Samuel, who has used crowdfunding to prove that his technology offers a revolutionary approach to lighting up Africa

This week’s special guest is US-Senegalese rap star Akon. Together with his African associates, the celebrity musician has launched Akon Lighting Africa which aims to bring electricity to 40 counties by 2020 and rewrite the continent’s history.

...more

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Down to Earth

By FRANCE 24 English

May 13, 2016

Senegal: Lighting the way for off-grid communities

Listen Later

11 minutes

In this new episode of "Down to Earth", we head to Senegal, where only three out of five households have access to electricity

Senegal gets an impressive nine months of uninterrupted sunshine every year but solar technology is still finding its feet.

Today much hope - and money - rests on the success of what's known as nanogrids, small independent energy systems that power several homes.

Among the new players, French entrepreneur Thomas Samuel, who has used crowdfunding to prove that his technology offers a revolutionary approach to lighting up Africa

This week’s special guest is US-Senegalese rap star Akon. Together with his African associates, the celebrity musician has launched Akon Lighting Africa which aims to bring electricity to 40 counties by 2020 and rewrite the continent’s history.

...more