In the case of our PAYG companies, it only makes sense to calculate household cost savings resulting from the purchase of pico (low-capacity) solar products with an energy capacity between 0.5 to 10.9 Wp. To calculate cost savings for households for pico installations based on GOGLA metrics, we need to know how many 0.5-3.9 Wp installations and how many 4.0-10.9 Wp installations our PAYG companies sell, as well as the average unit costs per product category.
Zonful Energy Cuts Energy Costs in Rural Zimbabwe
70% of the Zimbabwean population live in the rural areas, of which 80% are without electricity and using mainly fossil fuel. In order to curb energy poverty in rural off-grid Zimbabwe, Zonful Energy introduced the distribution of solar home systems under the Pay As You Go (PAYG) model. This initiative gives everyone an opportunity to have access to affordable and clean energy. Over 20,000 rural households in Zimbabwe have benefited from it. The Zimbabwean rural populace comprises of people who have little to no income and the PAYG model makes it easy for the rural folk to make payments in installments whilst they are accessing clean energy.
One of Zonful Energy’s first customers, Tamari Zvomuya, purchased a PAYG solar home system (SHS) in 2017. Tamari says that the purchase of the SHS came as a cost cutting intervention in her household as she reduced her spending on lighting and phone charging by over 50%. Compared to $8-15 she used to spend on candles per month, she only paid $6 per month for both lighting and phone charging, and after 18 months she was using the SHS free of charge.
In addition to being expensive, Tamari stated that candles and kerosene lamps were not durable. One candle would only give her two hours of light per night whereas the SHS gives her 24 hours of light and phone charging capabilities. Tamari described the SHS as accessible and convenient as it was delivered to your door step by Zonful Energy.
