Greenlight Planet Launches Most Affordable Solar Mobile Charging Product In Africa

CHICAGO, March 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Greenlight Planet, a for-profit solar energy company serving off-grid families in Africa and South Asia announces the launch of two new products across sub-Saharan Africa:

• Sun King™ Mobile
• Sun King™ Pro2

In addition to providing bright, nighttime lighting for homes that use paraffin lanterns, both products are designed to charge user's mobile phones using solar energy. Featuring proprietary technology and designed for the rigors of the rural marketplace, both products feature a 5-year battery life based on revolutionary Lithium Ferro Phosphate battery technology.

Mobile connectivity remains a crucial lifeline in rural communities across Africa, providing banking, healthcare and employment services for users. Yet, often individuals must walk 10 kilometers to electrified shops and pay steep fees to charge their phone. Says Anish Thakkar, company CEO "We are thrilled to offer this lifestyle-enhancing product at such an affordable price."

Greenlight Planet, which sold over 1 million solar lamps last year, priced the Sun King™ Mobile at $30USD -- 35-40% less expensive than its competitor's products. The Sun King™ Mobile features:

• Day or night USB mobile phone charging
• Light 8 times brighter than typical paraffin lanterns
• Up to 30 hours of light after a typical day of solar charging
• 5-year battery life based on revolutionary Lithium ferrophosphate technology

The Sun King™ Pro2 is the next generation in the brand's Sun King™ product line-up of solar lamps. Twice as bright as alternative solar lanterns, the Pro2 charges two standard mobile phones per day while providing safe, bright nighttime lighting. With the Pro2, users can stay connected by charging their mobile phone – and even their neighbor's phones – from their own home.

Countries in Africa where the new products will be sold: Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, South Africa and the Central African Republic.

Also, this March, the company will launch its Direct To Village sales model in Kenya and Uganda. Replicating its successes in India, Greenlight Planet will recruit and skill over 3,000 micro-entrepreneurs called Sun King™ Business Associates in Kenya and Uganda by 2015 to deliver Sun King products to off-grid families directly. In thousands of villages where they operate in the world today Business Associates increase their household income by 40% on average while providing a valuable social service for their communities.

Greenlight Planet's vision is to become a global leader in delivering clean, safe, affordable energy to the world's two billion under-served energy consumers. Africa alone has 350 million people living without electricity.  Founded in 2009 by university classmates, the Greenlight Planet team is dedicated to replacing dirty fuel sources prevalent in geographies such as Africa and India with clean energy technology. Greenlight Planet has sold over 1.8 million solar lamps, has 9 offices globally, over 700 full-time employees and 6000 village Business Associates.

Media Contact:
Valerie Donati, Brand Building Communications, 917-297-4144, [email protected]

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SOURCE Greenlight Planet