Students from Imperial College London have developed an innovative device called Equinox that promises to solve the problem of rural electrification in third world countries apart from aiding development. Equinox makes people’s lives better by ensuring consistent energy supply. It works in two parts and comprises of an energy kiosk for power production and portable battery for power distribution. Energy Kiosk acts as a centralized charging station fitted with photovoltaic panels for harnessing solar energy used to charge battery box.
The box has a 5Ah gel-based lead acid battery providing 25-30 hours of lighting used for lighting LED lamps or charging small electronic devices. People can pay a deposit for the recharge or and get a fully charged battery box in return for the empty one. The project has been successfully implemented in a remote Rwandan village.
