Solar Power Distribution
Access to electricity is essential for communities to break the cycle of poverty and build a sustainable future. In many remote areas, the lack of reliable power limits education, economic opportunities, and overall quality of life. Without electricity, children struggle to study at night, businesses cannot operate efficiently, and families remain dependent on costly and polluting fuels like kerosene. Electricity enables better healthcare, safer communities, and economic growth, allowing people to process agricultural products, power essential devices, and access information and education. Providing sustainable and affordable electricity solutions is urgent—not just for improving daily life but for creating opportunities that empower communities to thrive.
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Bringing Affordable Solar Energy to
Timor’s Off-Grid Communities
Despite significant expansion of the electricity grid, over 25% of Timor’s population still lacks access to electricity. Many small, isolated hamlets with 5–20 households remain unconnected, as the cost of extending the grid to these areas is prohibitively high. As a result, households rely on kerosene for lighting, with each liter burned emitting 2.4 kg of greenhouse gases. In many cases, families forgo lighting altogether, limiting children's ability to study at night and preventing men and women from processing agricultural products after dark. Reliable lighting also improves safety, particularly for women, while enabling households to charge mobile phones and gradually expand their energy use by adding solar panels and batteries as needed. Independent assessments show that access to solar energy increases household income and reduces dependence on costly kerosene.
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In response, Yayasan Besi Pae, in partnership with Powerwells, is providing simple, affordable household solar systems equipped with lithium batteries that store energy for nighttime use. These batteries are repurposed from discarded computer batteries, helping to reduce e-waste and prevent hazardous materials from ending up in landfills.
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The systems operate on a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) model, allowing households to make manageable monthly payments to cover the cost of the system while ensuring ongoing operation and maintenance. Each system is also remotely monitored to track energy usage, ensuring efficiency and reliability for users.