Rural Light
Rural Light seeks to lift non-electrified communities in the Philippines out of poverty by providing them with power from renewable resources. Communities that lack access to electricity are at a serious financial disadvantage because work and study becomes very limited after sunset. By focusing on renewable energy, Rural Light seeks to combat poverty in an environmentally and financially sustainable way.
1.The New Idea
Rural Light provides non-electrified communities in the Philippines access to facilities powered by renewable energy. These facilities also provide fee-based access to relevant market information that helps improve local businesses. This innovative delivery method for combining sustainable energy, electricity development and information sharing will foster local businesses and improve the community's quality of life.
2.The Problem
Many Philippine villages are literally stuck in the “dark ages” due to the lack of sufficient electrical services. Not only does the lack of access to electricity impair the improvement of the quality of life for many Filipinos, but it is also a challenge to productivity and business opportunities. Non-electrified households have a significantly lower income than electrified households due to the fact that they cannot work beyond daylight hours. These non-electrified households also have limited access to vital information that would allow them to build, grow and sustain businesses. The limited access to relevant information on crop prices and trade materials also reduce the ability to be competitive and to access new business opportunities.
3.The Strategy
Rural Light provides renewable energy facilities and information services to non-electrified communities and local businesses in the Philippines through an innovative delivery method. Communities will be taught skills to manage micro-hydro facilities (small generators utilizing water energy from streams), and the commercialization of their products will be integrated into an online and offline marketing space.
Rural Light will bring renewable energy and knowledge facilities to 100 off-grid communities and increase their productivity by 5% by 2012.
Fees paid to Rural Light for the use of the facility and for marketing goods would provide Rural Light's financial sustainability.
4.The Person
Alexander (Lex) Reyes, CEO of Rural Light is a Consultant and Researcher at the Department of Education, involved with World Bank projects, as well as at the Philippine Olympic Committee for strategy planning and Nomura Research Institute for infrastructure developments.
Lex graduated with honors in Psychology, Bachelor of Science from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2001. Before Rural Light, he worked on consulting projects with the World Bank, Nomura Research Institute, Philippine Business for Social Progress and Philippines government agencies.
His trips to rural areas in the Philippines helped him identify the need for rural electrification.
