Feb 11 2011
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lighting Research Center (LRC) announced that it has been granted a World Bank contract to carry out the testing of LED-based lighting product for a joint venture program between World Bank and IFC.
The Lighting Africa program aspires to enhance the development of off-grid lighting markets in Africa to enhance the access to clean lighting.
The program’s Technical Lead for the Quality Assurance Team, Arne Jacobson stated that the testing work carried out by LRC would enable consumers to recognize products in the Sub-Saharan Africa region. He added that the experience of LRC in the lighting sector would allow it to make a substantial contribution to support the development of new markets in the region.
LRC’s tests will be utilized by the World Bank to offer feedback to buyers and manufacturers in the region. The tests can also help form a lighting quality seal that is recognizable by consumers as part of a quality-assurance strategy. The strategy will support market development and provide technical advisory services to firms.
LRC will carry out testing of solar-charged LED lighting solutions with various energy storage technologies and charging systems over the forthcoming 18 months.