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Cambodia by Moonlight: Solar-Powered Lantern by Kamworks

09/12/2011 6:00 pm
Nikolai Soudek
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Solar energy company Kamworks developed the “MoonLight,” a solar-powered lantern, to serve the 70+ percent of Cambodians that have no access to the power grid. The lantern was developed in a participatory design project with rural Cambodians and is now produced in Cambodia.

Traditionally, after dark, kerosene lamps are used for tasks like cooking, eating and reading, but these lamps are highly dangerous (as most of these homes are made from wood and straw), unhealthy (smoke and soot) and also contribute to the greenhouse effect. The MoonLight can be rented for less than $0.08/day, the same as the average daily expenditure on kerosene.

Kamworks’ vision is that, as the Cambodian market is quite large, solar products should be produced locally, thus creating local jobs but also bringing the solar expertise to the country. ¹

The photos below are taken by Mathieu Young.