GOOD SCIENCE
JACINTA AUMA shuffles into her dim, mudwalled house, sits down, kicks off her sandals and switches on a light and a small television—a little miracle in this rural corner of western Kenya. An estimated two-thirds of sub-Saharan Africa’s population lack electricity, according to the International Energy Agency. Many have long used kerosene generators, but they are unhealthy and environmentally destructive. Auma’s house is powered by an alternative source of energy: Every day, she lines up a solar panel outside her home.
Until recently, solar power has been elusive for most here because of its high startup costs. But recent advancements have led to solar cells that are less expensive, sturdier and able to produce more wattage. Already, 14 percent of Kenyan households use solar as their primary lighting and charging source, according to a 2015 study by the global research consultancy InterMedia.