Solafrica bring World Cup to Nairobi slum

Solafrica at work

Even if South Africa crashes out of the World Cup in the first round, the tournament has seemingly unified the continent in a way that only football can, as well as bring a host of renewable energy projects to Africa.

Areas, that beforehand had no power, have been brought electricity so that they can watch the games. One company has been utilising solar power to make sure that watching the World Cup is as green as possible.

Swiss not-for-profit company Solafrica has made the headlines this week by bringing football to the Kibera slum of Nairobi, which is home to a million people... none of whom have electricity.

Instead of electricity, most of the slum provide of kerosene lamps for light, which can be heavily polluting. As such, Solafrica have provided the people with a portable solar power station that runs a large donated TV where residents can gather to watch the event.

"Solely powered by solar panels"

According to Solafrica's website, the scheme is an "innovative youth project for the production and sales of solar portable lamps in Kenya for people with low income."

"Due to a lack of electricity and infrastructure, people will be locked out of the greatest sports happening. To fill this gap, Solafrica.ch has come up with the idea of 'solar soccer'. This will be a world novelty as the infrastructure for the public viewing will solely powered by solar panels."

Once the World Cup is over, the TV is expected to be installed at a local school.

It is not the first time solar-power has enabled African communities to enjoy the football. A few weeks ago, Power & Energy Africa reported about a group of electricity starved villagers in Oboadaka in Ghana who are now able to watch matches from the World Cup on large screens courtesy of solar power in an initiative called Power Kick for Africa.

If this kind of innovation happens when a World Cup is happening, then perhaps the tournament should occur every year instead of every four.

Relevant articles:

World Cup comes to Ghana via solar energy | Power and Energy Africa | Could Africa power the world with concentrated solar power? | South Africa - power and energy news

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