WOWsolar 100

Target SDGs

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

This product is distributed by the manufacturer, Amped Innovation, PBC., and online/in store through retailers including BrightLife and Natfort Energy.

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include Mobisol Solar Home System and Rural Spark Energy Kit.

Regions

East Africa, West Africa

Countries

India

Manufacturing/Building Method

The system is mass produced. Each part of the system is manufactured individually.

The main component which contains the software-enabled Pay-As-You-Go interface has a housing that consists of two injection molded parts. At the bottom inside the housing all the internal components are loaded and secured from the back. Additionally, the main housing provides features to allow access to external  connectors and to support the internal components. For the status LED's, a custom light pipe is manufactured.

Both the housing of the main component and the housing of the external lights lens use high gloss surfaces. This external lights create a diffused light through a domed lens which is attached to its top housing with two screws and four pins.

Intellectural Property Type

Trademark

User Provision Model

Users can obtain the product through a pay-as-you-go financing structure from the manufacturer Amped Innovation or from retailers such as BrightLife and Natfort Energy.

Distributions to Date Status

Amped Innovation completed initial field trials of their WOWsolar Family product in the summer of 2016 with distribution partners in East and West Africa. As a result the company secured Memorandums of Understanding for 170,000 units in 2017.

Amped Innovation has been tasked to deliver over 1.6 million solar power centers during the next five years through partnerships with NGO's and social ventures serving smallholder farmers.

As of 2019, Amped Innovation's solar products have reached over 50,000 households.

Design Specifications

Specifications (from the product box), Lighting Global also collected specifications for the WOWsolar family and more detail for the WOWsolar 60 (which uses the same compenents).

• 1 - 10W Solar Panel
• 1 - Control unit with 20 Wh (1500 mAh, 12.8 V) lithium iron phosphate battery, 3 solar panel power inlets and 4 outlets (2 USB, 2 DC)
• 1 - Radio (Portable, 3 Wh battery)
• 3 - 140 lumens round LED Lamps (50 lumens in dim brightness setting)

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Support provided by manufacturer.

Replacement Components

Solar panels can be replaced separately.

Lifecycle

The complete lifecycle is unknown, but the product has a two year warranty on the kit and its components.

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Performance targets:

• Daytime Power: 3 full phone charges and 8 hours of radio functionality.
• Nighttime Power: 15 hours of 50 lumens per lamp or 6 hours of 140 lumens per lamp.

Vetted Performance Status

Lightning Global verified the following quality standards categories:

• Truth in advertising.
• Lumen maintenance.
• Battery composition, protection and durability.
• Physical ingress protection.
• Water ingress protection.
• Soldering and electronics workmanship.
• Mechanical durability.
• Minimum warranty terms.
• Performance reporting.

Safety

If pressure is applied on the photovoltaic panel by sitting or stepping on it, the device might break and cause bodily injury or electrical shock.

Precaution must be taken regarding electrical contacts or wiring, the person handling them must use adequate safety gear.

To avoid electrical shock, the photovoltaic panel must be earth grounded.

A minor risk of burns exists due to the heating of the photovoltaic panel's surface by the sun.

Complementary Technical Systems

The system is upgradeable; additional solar panels, battery packs and appliances (including a fan, hair trimmer and extra lamps) may be connected to the system.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

Complies with IEC 62257-9-5 and holds ISO 9001:2008 factory certification.

Evaluation methods

Lighting Global cites Quality Test Method (QTM) in IEC 62257-9-5 and the Lighting Global Quality Assurance Protocol for Solar Home Systems as evaluation criteria for the WOWsolar Family products.

Other Information

WOWsolar 100 is part of Amped Innovation's WOWsolar Family product. Other products such as the WOWsolar 60 are available and all can be upgraded with the addition of solar panels and battery packs.

Amped Innovation successfully acquired more than 3.3 million USD in venture funding from ENGIE Rassembleurs d’Energies, Schneider Electric Ventures and FINCA Ventures in 2019. They have partnered with organisations including: Driven Innovation, Angaza, the Autodesk Foundation, Magneto Commerce, Ryan McSwain Design and Solaris Offgrid.