Problem - MacroIn Burkina Faso, only 15% of people have reliable access to electricity, which drops further to 3% in rural regions of the country. Such a lack of reliable electricity provides a need for renewable, off-grid energy solutions such as solar panels. However, years of poor quality solar panel products on the market have created distrust among individuals of solar panel companies and nonprofits, meaning that a there is a need for certified quality products to combat such a stigma. Combined with a lack of understanding of how solar panels can improve livelihoods and how to choose the proper solar panels for to suit their energy needs, there is a huge untapped market for solar power in Burkina Faso.
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Problem - MicroAs a local Burkinabé, Matthew struggles from poor electricity connectivity and reliability, and thus has looked to solar power as an off-grid solution for his energy requirements previously. Unfortunately, many of the past solar panel products he has purchased have either broken quickly due to poor quality or have proven to be the wrong panels for his energy needs. With reliable solar panels designed for the local context and certified through rigorous standards, Matthew may actually be able to achieve the energy reliability and sustainability that he requires. Information about the type and size of panel needed to fulfill his energy requirements would further contribute to the success of his solar power solution.
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Customer Profile
The customers of SolStar are primarily African manufacturers who purchase SolStar certification of their solar panel products to prove the quality and integrity of their products to African consumers, which ultimately drives up sales of their products as seen with previous solar lantern rating systems.
Secondary to solar panel manufacturers are local and regional distributors and retailers who have the ability to inform customer decision making regarding purchasing of solar panels to meet the clients' solar energy requirements. This is done through outreach agents from SolStar who train retailer and distributor staff on how to present solar energy as a solution to unreliable electricity and how to inform customers of the choices they have for different solar panel products.
Secondary to solar panel manufacturers are local and regional distributors and retailers who have the ability to inform customer decision making regarding purchasing of solar panels to meet the clients' solar energy requirements. This is done through outreach agents from SolStar who train retailer and distributor staff on how to present solar energy as a solution to unreliable electricity and how to inform customers of the choices they have for different solar panel products.
Stakeholders
Contextual Factors
Contextual factors related to the social mission include, but are not limited to:
- 15% access to electricity in Burkina Faso dropping to 3% in rural areas
- Unique partnership of Penn State with 2iE, a global university with research focused on solar and renewable energy
- Past successes increasing solar panel sales for solar energy certification systems in the developing world