Solar Shelter Kit launched at AidEx in Brussels
The first-ever Solar Shelter Kit innovation has been launched successfully at the recently concluded AidEx Summit in Brussels. This breakthrough product is developed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ Shelter Research Unit (IFRC-SRU), PRACTICA Foundation, and Enlight, NRS Relief’s solar brand.
The Solar Shelter Kit promises to bring a better life to those living in humanitarian settlements set up in the aftermath of natural disasters and humanitarian crises. The kit comprises a solar panel, a lighting/phone charging unit and a cable set. It offers 55 hours of light and smartphone charging capabilities, and the durable solar panel can be attached to any shelter structure.
The key features of the Solar Shelter Kit were demonstrated on NRS International’s exhibition stand at AidEx. The new product was very well received by the aid and development community.
Solar Shelter Kit for aid and relief
Enlight believes that everybody should have access to the free, clean and abundant energy of the sun, including the more than 65 million displaced people around the world. Fleeing humanitarian crises and natural disasters, these people often live in makeshift tented settlements and humanitarian camps in remote areas, without electricity. Enlight collaborates closely with governments, aid and relief agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to forge partnerships that create products specifically designed to meet beneficiary needs.
Innovative approach already benefits refugees
In its first such collaboration, Enlight partnered with IFRC-SRU and the PRACTICA Foundation to develop and launch the Solar Shelter Kit. This development was enabled via S(P)EEDKITS, a project funded via the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration (grant agreement 284931).
The product’s solar panel is designed so that it can be easily fixed to the roof of any structure. Once installed, the user can thread the long five-meter cable into the dwelling, and then use the power of the solar panel to charge the multi-purpose light and phone charger.
To know more about the Solar Shelter Kit innovation, watch this vlog.