10.04.23 Seite 1

GTZ SOLAR LAMPS (PicoPV) FIELD TEST Consumer Preferences and Impacts

- preliminary results -

Lucius Mayer-Tasch, GTZ PREEEP Uganda

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Ongoing GTZ Solar Lamps Study

A. Field test research questions:1. Consumer Preferences: Which lamp models do different user groups prefer?

2. Hardware: How do lamps perform under real-life, everyday LDC conditions?

3. WTP: How much are users willing to pay?

4. Benefits: What are the socio-economic benefits? (notably: which share of traditional lighting expenditures do solar lamps actually replace in every-day use?)

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B. Four new, practical research instruments to answer these questions:

a) Consumer Survey with standardized questionnaires

b) Focus Groups with users, local authorities, potential vendors

c) Lamp Auction to assess willingness to pay

d) Expert Interviews with local authorities, business owners, technicians

C. Seven lamp models tested in Uganda:

Ongoing Solar Lamps Field Test

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Ongoing Solar Lamps Field TestField test Uganda:

Consumer surveys with 2 samples of unelectrified rural households in Northern Uganda

a) Sale of 110 solar lamps / 7 different models for assessment of field performance & consumer preferences (ongoing)

Sale of lamps above 100 US$ turned out difficult lending of lamps to selected low-income households for a 3-month test period

b) Distribution of 100 lamps to women with HIV/AIDS

Interviews with 50 households with and of 50 households without solar lantern (control group) Assessment of field performance & impacts

Field test Bolivia and Nicaragua: Household rotations, i.e. sequential test use of 7 different lamp models (2 nights each – cooperation with ESMAP)

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Ongoing Solar Lamps Field Test

Household rotations

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Preliminary Results from Uganda Question 1: Which lamp models do users prefer?

Clear preference for multi-purpose lamps / lantern type 360° light cone is preferred / considered most suitable for everyday indoor activities, i.e. domestic work,

reading, studying, socializing

Lamps are mostly put on a table, even if there is a mechanism to

hang them up on the ceiling Preference for lantern design that

resembles traditional lighting devices

Marked concern about quality Users recognize quality products at

first sight Customers ask for warranty

certificates Protection of switches against water

and dust is appreciated

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Additional usage Phone chargers are important extra feature / important selling

point Almost all respondents listen to the radio several hours per day –

internal and external radio functions are appreciated, but not a crucial selling point

Most important aspect from users’ perspective Light intensity is most important lamp feature “Clear” light of CFL is preferred to “dimmed” light of the LED Portability is given little importance Heavy weight is considered an indicator of good quality For moving outside users prefer limited light cone in order not to

be recognized (Northern Uganda marked by conflict…)

Preliminary Results from Uganda Question 1: Which lamp models do users prefer?

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Marked difference between performance of quality and lower quality products

Parts that failed most often: cables, connections, switches, battery, handles

Sufficient cable length: min. 4 m recommended

Preliminary Results from Uganda Question 2: How do lamps perform under everyday

conditions?

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Sales Prices from “Dutch Auction”

Freilassing + external radio 88.5 US$

Solux LED 100 75.5 US$

Aishwarya (w/o radio) 34 US$

Solux LED 50 > 24 US$ (not sold)

Solata > 11 US$ (not sold)

Preliminary results from Uganda Question 3: How much are users willing to pay?

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Light consumption increased from 90 to 930 lumen hours per evening through introduction of solar lamp

Solar lamp replaces kerosene lamp as main lighting source in 90% of households, BUT: most households continue to use kerosene lamps, candles and torches

30% reduction in household expenses for kerosene and batteries for lighting Share of households where children study /

read in the evening increased from 35% to 50% Evening activities are prolonged by 0.5 h Positive qualitative results for HIV / AIDS

patients

Preliminary Results from Uganda Question 4: What are the socio-economic benefits for users?

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Cross-Country Analysis – An Example

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‘One-size-fits-all’ lamp model does not exist:

Lamp models are rated differently by users in different countries!

However, there are some common findings: Light quality is rated as most important aspect across countries Suspicion against poor quality products in all countries Culture-related reservations against or preferences for visual design

features (color, shape) will influence successful marketing; for example: Associations with colors: white is regarded as “untouchable” in

Uganda for spiritual reasons; colors of ruling political party disliked by Northerners

In Mozambique, one model is described as “masculine” Some like it large, some like it small…

Cross-Country Analysis – Emerging Results

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Lab Test 2009 … & … PicoPV Primer 2010

For more information: