Archive for June, 2009

C-Cell Mobile Phone Charging in Ghana

Jun 24, 2009 Africa, Ghana, Innovation, Mobile, Power, Solar

Nana Owusu Acheampongs C-Cell Cell Phone Charger

Nana Owusu Acheampong's C-Cell Phone Charger

Kevin Rehak, an MBA Student at Columbia University that I am working with, recently sent me this photo of an innovative approach to cell phone charging in Ghana.  Using a charging system he made himself, Mr. Acheampong, one of the Abusuapanin Community Leader’s in Bonsaaso village, use’s 4 C dry cell batteries to charge mobile phones.  The four 1.5V batteries in series adds up to 6V which is similar to the 5.5V that most cell phones require (amperage varies). The set of batteries cost 1 Ghana Cedi and he is able to charge four phones before needing to replace the batteries.  This compares to the 1 Cedi cost of charging a phone at the local cell tower.

Obviously, for a number of reasons this solution is not ideal.  The phones charge very quickly (~10 minutes) but are probably receiving too high of a current which damages batteries.  From an environmental standpoint, this method is particularly wasteful.  All this is to highlight both the huge demand for cell phone charging in rural areas in Africa and a general lack of cheap and efficient technologies available for entrepreneurs like Mr. Acheampong.

Tough Stuff Solar Panel

Tough Stuff Solar Panel

Luckily, a lot of new products are beginning to enter the market that should help change this.  The Tough Stuff Solar Panel a 1W (5.6V, 174mA) highly robust, amorphous panel that is ideal for charging individual cell phones is a particularly exciting example of this.  More important then spec, the Tough Stuff Panel (with cell connectors) comes in at about €10 or less per panel retail.  The retail price will obviously have to be a bit more but if you consider existing charging practices (see above) even a $20 price-point seems very viable.

Also see related post on 12V Cell Phone Charging Practices in Mali

Rethinking the term “Solar Systems”

Jun 15, 2009 ICT4D, Solar, Technology

Off-Grid Component Costs over Time

I had a really interesting discussion at work with my boss Vijay Modi and some colleagues about the real costs of an off-grid “solar” systems.  The perception is often that solar panels make up the bulk of the cost of an off-grid system.  The reality, however, with any time horizon over three years is that the cost of batteries will be the biggest determining factor of cost over time.  It is for this reason, that Mark Hankin’s argues that off-grid system should not be called “solar systems” but rather battery-based systems.

If you consider that most off-grid systems in Africa fail after three years, this term is unfortunately even more appropriate.

Quick Hits {20090610}

Jun 9, 2009 Quick Hits

  • Nice Interview by Sean Blaschke on New Hampshire Public Radio on the Columbia/UNICEF Malawi Malnutrition Monitoring pilot using RapidSMS
  • Useful ICT4D Calendar by GKPNet
  • Great story by Subsarahska on the DR Congo Inland Fiber cable.  Love the part about Kabila going himself to state that the cable was made out of glass and worthless to steal.  It then goes on to explain how earlier 75KM of copper cable was stolen.. in one night.
  • WhiteAfrican makes an impassioned argument on how to support high-tech entrepreneurship in Africa and sheds some interesting light on how the new Gmail Google Preview feature was inspired by Google Employees who experienced the glory of an Ethiopian Cyber Café
  • Maker Faire Africa dates are set for August 14-16th in Accra.  They are actively looking both for makers and sponsors.  There is an option on their website to make individual, small donations if you want to help.
  • Interesting post on Twitter Data: an open proposal for embedding data in twitter messages.  Includes some interesting ideas that could also apply to SMS.
  • Last but not least, AfroPop’s Summer Concert Schedule.  Some great African groups coming through the States and Canada this summer that arent’ to be missed.