FUTURES EXPO SERIES
Repairable
off-grid energy futures
> Published whitepaper , " Off-grid solar repair in Africa : from burden to opportunity " ( 2023 ), that sets a policy agenda for the off-grid solar sector to expand repairable approaches .
> Partnerships established with key local , regional , and international companies , NGOs , and governments to create and expand off-grid solar repair initiatives .
> Mini-document , title “ The Afterlife of Solar ” on off-grid solar waste in Malawi , launched in 2021 .
Extending the lives of off-grid solar products in Africa and the Pacific
Research project
Small-scale , off-grid solar markets across Africa and the Pacific region have rapidly expanded . In particular , solar lamps and small solar home systems have become immensely popular as a primary lighting source for many rural and peri-urban households .
In the wake of this boom is the murkier story of solar e-waste . The off-grid solar market is largely unregulated , and many of these products are of poor quality and only have life spans of a couple of years . As a result , millions of off-grid solar products are in disrepair across Africa and the Pacific .
This project , with funding support from the Australian Research Council and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade , explores opportunities to increase the repair economy for off-grid solar products in Zambia , Malawi and Vanuatu . This includes working with companies to ensure greater reparable design in the sector and enhance localised repair capabilities .
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