The Country Manager of Shell in Kenya, Brian Muriuki, has adduced several reasons why the company is supporting the development of alternative power supply sources.
Muriuki spoke in Nairobi, Kenya during the launch of GravityLight, one of the alternative sources of power supply supported by Shell.
He said the reality of climate change on the entire world requires looking at living generally, with sources of power supply being a crucial part.
He said Shell is “very Concerned” about how to “develop clean, efficient, sustainable energy for the world”.
Muriuki said Gravity Light is a crucial part of the #makethefuture campaign of Shell, adding: “It is a global energy relay.”
Shell had already launched one of such projects in Brazil.
Collaborating with Insolar, the project saw the fitting of photovoltaic panels to community centers in Rio de Janeiro favela Santa Marta, including a samba school and creche.
Over 8,000 lives were affected by the project launched in September.
In Nigeria, Shell in December 2015 unveiled Africa’s first player and solar powered football pitch.
The project, located at the Federal College of Education, Akoka, Lagos State, has power generated as players engage in the game of football on the pitch.
Launched in conjunction with popular musician, Akon, the kinetic energy generated while playing on the pitch is stored and combined with power generated by solar panels to operate the floodlights around the mini-stadium.
GravityLight, the new addition to the projects, which are seven chosen for support by Shell across the world, is a low-carbon innovation that does not need batteries or sunlight to function.
After the purchase, for $25, it costs nothing to run.
It works by connecting an elevated bag filled with 12kg of rocks or sand to a pulley system.
Each time the weight descends to the ground, it powers a generator to create 20 minutes of light.
This can be done over and over again.
Already, the lighting system has started receiving accolades.
World’s richest man, Bill Gates, described it as a “cool innovation”, while Time magazine named it as one of the top 25 inventions of 2013.
Forbes magazine said those behind the innovation were “set to change the world”.
Muriuki said on the Kenya project: “Across Kenya, 77 per cent of people are living without access to electricity.
“Bringing GravityLight technology to the country shows how collaboration and smart thinking really is the key to providing the most basic of human rights, while enabling people to prosper and progress.”
Plans have reached an advanced stage to set up an assembly plant in Kenya for the manufacture of the product in commercial quantity.
The drivers of the project have already made 3,000 pieces of GravityLight available to the Kenyan community.
The project, backed by famous Nigerian singer, Yemi Alade, as ambassador, was an instant hit with the Kenyan people.
Most of them were part of the GravityLight 50 Night Tour that saw the demonstration of how the power system works.
Jim Reeves, one of the innovators, was also a part of the tour and demonstration.
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