Written by: Jose Luis Caceres
In September of 2015 world leaders adopted the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, which includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). This historical milestone signified an unprecedented world-wide commitment in the fight to end poverty, inequality and injustice; protect and preserve the environment and tackle climate change.
The themes on which the SDG’s are built are: Prosperity, People, Planet, Peace and Partnership. All of these Goals -including 169 targets- are inherently interconnected and although it might sound too romantic, almost utopic, they constitute the frame and blueprints that could lead the world to economic prosperity, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.
As a reference, I present here the list of the 17 UN’s SDG’s:
The seventh SDG: Affordable and Clean Energy
We all know that energy in the form of electricity is crucial for people’s development and consequently for achieving a decent standard of living. Though electricity is something that the majority of us give for granted, this is not necessarily the case for all. Aligning the SDG # 7 which implies the use of clean and affordable electricity can hardly be better epitomized than in the context of a poor, rural and remote ‘off-grid’ community in a developing country. A community whose choices for lighting and other electricity needs are kerosene lamps or candles or in some cases the use of polluting and expensive diesel generators.
In the context above described and with the principle that access to energy changes lives, a Canadian non-profit organization has stepped-up with the aim of implementing projects in communities that don’t have access to electricity. This organization is Light Up the World (LUTW).
How the work that LUTW does epitomize Sustainable Development?
We mentioned that all SDG are inherently interconnected. Particularly, when it comes to energy, this is central to Sustainable Development and reducing poverty, as it affects all aspects of development: Social, economic and environmental-
Plain and simple, access to electricity, and particularly in this case, clean renewable and affordable electricity -such as solar PV- changes lives, it empowers people, gives them more choices, for example the choice of studying after the sun sets, or spending quality time with families and also saves money otherwise spent on kerosene to fuel lamps, or single use batteries for lanterns, or candles, etc. The results of implementing these projects are truly transformational. Power brings opportunities!
How does LUTW work and operate?
In order to understand how LUTW works and operates, it is probably best to review a bit of its vision, mission and history. *The following are excerpts from LUTW’s website (lutw.org).
Vision: That development for the 1.6 billion people worldwide without access to affordable, healthy, efficient, and environmentally responsible lighting and energy can be promoted through the provision of sustainable energy and lighting solutions.
Mission: LUTW is an international development organization whose goal is to provide renewable energy technologies and high efficiency lighting to communities around the world that do not have access to appropriate and affordable energy solutions.
History: LUTW was born thanks to the initiative of Dr. Dave Irvine-Halliday, a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Calgary. Dr. Irvine-Halliday envisioned the potential of the use of LED lighting to bring practical, economical and environmentally safe lighting to the developing world.
In 2001, Dave met Ken Robertson, a development professional with extensive field experience and understanding of sustainable energy and environmental issues. Ken recognized the large scale potential of Dave’s idea and felt that solid-state lighting technologies coupled with renewable energy could be a true leapfrog technology on par with the development of the cell phone or the transistor radio. Ken became LUTW’s first Executive Director and under his direction created the NGO, Light Up The World, formally established in 2002.
Ken led the organization’s research and development efforts to derive the world’s first economically viable solid-state lighting package now known as the “light in a box”. This system provides rural communities with an ultra-efficient, reliable and robust lighting and energy system.
The combination of Dave’s vision and Ken’s development management resulted in LUTW earning international acclaim for its innovative use of appropriate technology in international development. LUTW has received several prestigious awards and has been profiled in scientific articles, journals and popular publications (eg: Rolex, Readers Digest, National Geographic magazine).
Using partnership models developed by Ken, LUTW trained, outfitted and mentored on-the ground indigenous organizations to develop solid-state lighting and renewable energy programs within their operations.
Through generous support from interested individuals, corporations, host country organizations, international foundations and industrial partners, LUTW has brought light to homes in 54 countries around the world from Afghanistan to Zambia.
Light Up the World is based in Calgary and has two field offices in Peru (Lima and Ancash). Currently operates mostly in the Andean region of South America.
In order to operate its mission, LUTW aligns innovative technology with the compromise of different stakeholders, including donors, local and regional authorities and most importantly the participation of the benefited communities; all of which within the frame of sustainability.
As far as technology, LUTW uses an effective combination of solar photovoltaic systems, which includes a solar PV module (to generate electricity), a controller (to regulate the voltage and current), battery (to store the electricity), LED lighting, wiring, switches, DC to DC converter and adaptor to connect other devices such as cell phones and radios. These systems are designed modular, which means that they can be adapted and changed over time as demand for electricity changes.
In turn, the use of these systems serve as a replacement and a vast improvement on the use of toxic fuels such as kerosene, or single use batteries and/or candles.
Based on its already vast gained experience, LUTW has stablished a methodology and a set of stages necessary in order successfully implement solar PV / lighting projects. These set of steps are built on the premise that a good relationship with the community, its local authorities and organizations has been established, and having a good knowledge of the area/region. The steps are:
· Step one: Choosing a local partner.
· Step two: Pre-project feasibility study and assessing community readiness.
· Step three: Community Sensitization.
· Step four: Project Management
· Step five: Training
· Step six: Installation
· Step seven: Monitoring, evaluation and skills reinforcement
The goal of goals, converging prosperity with social inclusion and in an environmentally sustainable manner – LUTW has it covered!
In a world in which the planetary boundaries are more and more constrained given the fact that the human population and its needs continue to grow, it is imperative to embrace sustainable practices. Stretching too much these planetary boundaries could eventually derive in catastrophic consequences for humanity and the environment if no actions are taken.
But not all is doom and gloom, the good news is that nations and organizations around the world are partnering and aligning efforts to combat the most pressing issues affecting humanity -the UN’s SDG’s is a testament of that-, and LUTW is an example of one such organization. LUTW is without a doubt a true example of sustainability, as it provides clean and affordable energy in an environmentally sound manner and thus making positive changes in the life of people who live in poor, neglected and remote ‘off-grid’ indigenous communities.
I certainly applaud the mission of LUTW for what they do, and this doesn’t go without saying that this is an organization that happens to operate in the country where I am originally from, Peru. Thank you on behalf of my country, LUTW!
