Cultivating Technologies and Markets for Affordable Low-Carbon Off-Grid Lighting in the Developing World

In the Field

Goal: To conduct field research, demonstrations, and market research on off-grid LED systems.

Projects

Check out our map showing pilot projects and market research by diverse organizations throughout the world.

Policy & General Interest

Mills, E. 2014. "Light for Life: Identifying and Reducing the Health and Safety Impacts of Fuel-based Lighting." Prepared for United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) en.lighten initiative, Paris, 26pp. [PDF]
Mills. 2014. “Lifting the Darkness on the Price of Light: An Assessment of Energy Subsidies on the Off-grid Lighting Market in ECOWAS countries.” Prepared for United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) en.lighten initiative, Paris, 28pp. [PDF]
Mills, E. 2014. “Light & Livelihood: A Bright Outlook for Employment in the Transition from Fuel-based Lighting to Off-grid Electric Alternatives.” Prepared for United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) en.lighten initiative, Paris, 30pp. [PDF]
Craine, S., E. Mills, and J. Guay. 2014. "Clean Energy Services for All: Financing Universal Electrification." Sierra Club: Washington, D.C., 8pp. [PDF]
Mills, E., J. Tracy, P. Alstone, A. Jacobson, and P. Avato. 2014. "Low-cost LED Flashlights and Market Spoiling in Kenya's Off-grid Lighting Market." Energy Efficiency [PDF]
Mills, E. and A. Jacobson. 2011. From Carbon to Light: A new Framework for Estimating Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions from Replacing Fuel-Based Lighting with LED Systems. Energy Efficiency, 4:523-546. [PDF]
Alstone, P. A. Jacobson, and E. Mills. 2010. "Illumination Sufficiency Survey Techniques: In-situ Measurements of Lighting System Performance and a User Preference Survey for Illuminance in an Off-Grid, African Setting ." Lumina Project Research Note #7 [download]

Uses in enterprises

Alstone, P., K. Radecsky, A. Jacobson, and E. Mills. 2014. "Field Study Methods and Results from a Market Trial of Night Market Vendors in Rural Kenya." Light and Engineering 22(2):23-37. [download]
Alstone, P., K. Radecsky, A. Jacobson, and E. Mills. 2013. "The Dynamics of Off-grid Lighting Adoption." Lumina Project Technical Report #12, 25pp. [Online summary & download]
Tracy, J. and E. Mills. 2012. "LED Lighting Beneficial for the Developing World." World Poultry. pp. 32-33, January [Online version & downloads] [PDF]
Tracy, J. and E. Mills. 2011. "Illuminating The Pecking Order in Off-Grid Lighting: A Demonstration of LED Lighting for Saving Energy in the Poultry Sector," Light and Enginnering, Vol 19, No. 4, pp 67-76 [PDF]. Also as Lumina Project Technical Report #8, 2010 [Online summary & download]
Gengnegal, T., P. Wolburg, and E. Mills. 2013. "Alternatives to Fuel-Based Lighting for Night Fishing." Lumina Project Technical Report #11 [Online summary and download]
Johnstone, P., A. Jacobson, E. Mills, and K Radecsky. 2009. "Observed Minimum Illuminance Threshold for Night Market Vendors in Kenya who use LED Lamps." Lumina Project Research Note #3. [PDF

Health & safety

Mills, E. 2012. "Health Impacts of Fuel-based Lighting." Lumina Project Technical Report #10. [Online summary & download]
Apple, J., R. Vicente, A. Yarberry, N. Lohse, E. Mills, A. Jacobson, and D. Poppendieck. 2010. "Characterization of particulate matter size distributions and indoor concentrations from kerosene and diesel lamps." Indoor Air, doi:10.1111/j.1600-0668.2010.00664.x [online summary & download]

Assisting project led by the Women's Emergency Communication and Reliable Electricity (WE CARE). The project promotes safe motherhood and reduces maternal mortality in developing regions by providing health workers with reliable lighting, blood bank refrigeration and mobile communication using solar electricity. LBNL is currently advising on field research design and helping to assess the quality of candidate LED lighting products.

Market trials, Kenya

Tracy, J., P. Alstone, A. Jacobson, and E. Mills. 2010. "Market Trial: Selling Off-Grid Lighting Products in Rural Kenya." Lumina Project Technical Report #6 [online summary and download]
Radecsky, K., P. Johnstone, A. Jacobson, and E. Mills. 2008. "Solid-State Lighting on a Shoestring Budget: The Economics of Off-Grid Lighting for Small Businesses in Kenya." Lumina Project Technical Report #3. [PDF]
- Photo Essay and user statements regarding impacts on prosperity [PDF]
Mills, E. and A. Jacobson. 2007. "The Off-Grid Lighting Market in Western Kenya: LED Alternatives and Consumer Preferences in a Millennium Development Village." Lumina Project Technical Report #2. [PDF]

Assessment of flashlights (aka "torches") as harbingers of the best and worst of LED lighting

Tracy, J., A. Jacobson, and E. Mills. 2010."Use Patterns of LED Flashlights in Kenya and a One-Year Cost Analysis of Flashlight Ownership." Lumina Project Research Note #5. [PDF]
Tracy, J., A. Jacobson, and E. Mills. 2009. "Quality and Performance of LED Flashlights in Kenya: Common End User Preferences and Complaints." Lumina Project Research Note #4. [PDF]

Tibet, China

(Led by students from UC Berkeley under UNIDO program)

Jones, R., J. Du, Z. Gentry, I. Gur, and E. Mills. 2005. "Alternatives to Fuel-based Lighting in China." [PDF]

Kutch, India