Philips solutions for sustainable off-grid lighting

Monday,July 07, 2008

 

Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) has developed a number of new sustainable off-grid lighting solutions for people without access to electricity. It is estimated that about 1.6 billion people around the world have no access to electricity. For them nighttime means either darkness or the flickering light for example of a kerosene lamp. However as oil prices have risen dramatically during the past few years very few can now afford the kerosene they need. Solar and wind up lighting solutions can now offer solutions and Philips has a number of solutions already available.

Uday

The Philips Solar Uday lantern
This is a portable compact lighting system, which is powered by a solar panel and built in battery pack. It will provide 250 lumens for five hours after a day’s loading in the sun. The benefits are considerable. It is cheaper to run than Kerosene lamps and provides far more and higher quality light. It is also safer as there is no fire risk as with kerosene and better for the health as damaging smoke is avoided. Economic benefits include the extension of working hours beyond sunset and children for example can continue to do homework in the evenings. There is also an environmental benefit as the Solar Uday have no direct carbon footprint and the use of a sustainable natural commodity, sunlight or man power to generate electricity.

Dynamo Multi LED

The Philips Dynamo Multi LED – A self powered flashlight
This is a wind up LED torch or flashlight, which offers a bright white light. The use of LED in the torch means the drain on the battery is low so that the torch can be operated for long periods. The flashlight contains a dynamo which is self charging and two minutes of winding by hand will provide 17 minutes of light. This offers very convenient light in off-grid situations. The Dynamo multi led also comes in a shock resistant outer covering.    

 

Future Philips SOLAR LED Solutions
Philips is currently developing a number of Solar LED solutions which will be affordable and offer fast paybacks and cost savings. These will offer high quality white light, with a high lumen output. These developments are expected to be available in early 2009.

 

Philips mission is to improve people’s lives’ and is committed to making affordable, high-quality, energy efficient lighting available to areas where it is most needed. Philips is also involved in the World Bank Group initiative to provide modern lighting to the 250 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa who have no access to electricity. Jointly managed by the World Bank and IFC, Lighting Africa aims to develop market conditions for the supply and distribution of new, non fossil fuel lighting products, such as fluorescent light bulbs and light emitting diodes, in rural and urban areas of the region that are not connected to the electricity grid.

For further information, please contact:

Nick Kelso

Philips Lighting Communications
Tel:  +31 40 27 56056   Mobile:  +31 6 100 39 296
Email:  n.kelso@philips.com

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a global leader in healthcare, lighting and consumer lifestyle, delivering people-centric, innovative products, services and solutions through the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 134,200 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 27 billion in 2007, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, as well as lifestyle solutions for personal wellbeing. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.