NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Today Google has announced their continued support of international development charity SolarAid and their work distributing solar lights in rural Africa, by funding a two year evaluation on the impact of solar lights on poverty alleviation.

In June 2013 the charity won a Google Global Impact Award for using technology to make the world a better place, faster. Pico-solar lights provide clean, safe light for families living without electricity in rural communities. Light extends the productive working day for students to study at night and for businesses to stay open. It also has health and economic impacts; reducing the indoor air pollution caused by burning fuels like kerosene for light and enabling families to save a big proportion of the household income previously spent on kerosene, candles or batteries.

There is huge potential for solar lights to improve people’s standard of living in Africa and Google have agreed to fund a $650,000 two-year Randomised Control Trial study (RCT) into the impact of solar lights on poverty alleviation.