Page 164 - ISES SWC50

8.7 PV in Developing Countries 1980-1989

The PV industry is slowly growing along with the interest in providing solar power to unelectrified people
around the world. However, individuals begin to investigate how to overcome the need for upfront capital.
During this decade Kenya’s reputation becomes known globally as one of the active commercial markets
for sales of solar home systems and for this reason these highlights show its growth. Many studies were
undertaken about Kenya particularly during the 90s. Multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors’ interest in solar
projects started to grow.

• Between 1980 and 1990 G.I.E. Solar installed 3300 SHS such that by 1987 50% of electrified houses in
French Polynesia ran on solar power.

1981
• IT Power Ltd, one of the first solar energy consulting firms, founded in UK by Bernard McNelis, Peter
Fraenkel and Anthony Derrick. This company’s main focus was renewable energy for the developing
countries and the company has since undertaken hundreds of projects around the world.
• NASA LeRC built PV systems for vaccine refrigerator power and by 1984 had supplied systems to 30
locations around the globe.
• Wirtschaft and Infrastrktur Planungs (WIP) had been established in 1968 to advise on developing
countries infrastructure projects and moved into renewable energy in 1981.

1982
• Ex USA Peace Corps worker Harold Burris establishes Kidogo Systems, a solar retail business, in Machakos,
Kenya.

1983
• BP Solar sets up BP Solar East Africa office in Kenya.
• Mark Hankins was a USA Peace Corps teacher at a high school without power and he met with Harold
Burris to discuss solar for the school. The system went in and other teachers then wanted solar for their
houses. This convinced Hankins on solar and to this day he is still promoting solar in Kenya.

1984
• On January 21, 1984, Richard Hansen boarded a plane from Boston headed for the Dominican Republic
with a solar photovoltaic panel under his arm. He demonstrated the technology to rural families. This
resulted in the first installation of an appropriate solar PV system combined with a micro-credit payment
plan, sold to Sr. Felipe Martinez in April 1984 for his country store/home in the community of Bella Vista.
Soon, as word spread, many other families and businesses in Bella Vista and other communities expressed
interest. In September 1984 Richard incorporated Enersol Associates, Inc. a Boston based non-profit
organization to introduce solar technology in developing countries through technical assistance for local
solar technicians and NGO credit programs.
• Harold Burris renames his business Solar Shamba and moves to Embu, in the coffee-growing belt around
Mt. Kenya
• The Solar Energy Company (SEC) was established by the Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific
(FSP) in Kiribati with USAID funding. SEC was formed as a private company and carried out the sales of
PV systems or components and their installations. In 1989 the Kiribati Government took over SEC and it
still operates today.

1985
• Kenya becomes one of the fastest growing market for providing solar to the rural people with four more
companies entering the market in 1985: Television Sales and Rentals – Telesales; Alpa Nguvu; Associated
Battery Manufacturers; Solar World.
• In 1985 Richard Hansen established a local model PV supply enterprisein Dominican Republic that served
as a training vehicle, an enterprise which evolved to become SOLUZ.SOLUZ is still operating in 2020.

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