Energy is a basic human need. Stable and reliable energy supply and access to clean and renewable energy are basic prerequisites for economic development, poverty reduction and the fight against climate change. The United Nations reports that 2.7 billion people – almost half the world’s population – still rely on wood, charcoal or plant residues for daily cooking and heating. More than 1.4 billion have no access to electricity. Nearly 600 million of them live in sub-Saharan Africa, where 90 per cent of households use biomass for their daily energy needs. Every year, more than 1.5 million people die from the health problems caused by the resulting smoke. It is also harmful to the environment – 20 per cent of the world’s man-made CO2 emissions come from deforestation.

The United Nations proclaimed 2012 as the International Year for Sustainable Energy with the following goals: by 2030, access to modern energy services should be ensured for all people and the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix should be doubled.

Cameroon is no exception within sub-Saharan Africa. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), only 48 percent of Cameroon’s population had access to electricity in 2009. About 90 percent of the electricity is produced using hydropower, which is extremely vulnerable to drought. More than half of the electricity produced is also used in the aluminium industry.

The potential for the diffusion of solar energy and solar technologies is enormous in Cameroon. Our project aims to empower small entrepreneurs and families who do not have access to electricity. We want to prevent dependence on unreliable electricity supply with continuous power cuts.

Professional expert support as well as monetary donations are most welcome.