ABSTRACT
The largest potential market for pico-solar products is the world’s off-grid population, people who live without access to electricity or those living in areas where electricity supplies are intermittent and unreliable. This market, which is predominantly composed of low income households and commonly referred to by economists and development actors as the Base of the Pyramid (BoP), is often difficult and expensive for companies to reach. This chapter examines the ways the sector is working to overcome challenges of:
logistics and distribution;
financial barriers which prevent customers from purchasing pico-solar products;
creating demand for and trust in pico-solar companies and products;
ensuring customers receive good service;
taxes and tariffs;
product disposal, reuse and recycling.
