Solar Benin Energy
ABOUT US
WHO WE ARE
Solar Benin Energy is an off-grid electrification project of NOVI NGO, a U.S. based 501c(3) nonprofit organization working in Benin, West Africa. We provide solar light and solar electricity to people living in underserved communities.
We believe access to clean safe energy should be a right, not a privilege. Help us fight for this right.
OUR MISSION
Improve the quality of life in rural Benin by providing access to affordable solar energy products.
OUR GOAL
Power 100,000 households by 2020.
WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE
Building relationships is our focus. In everything we do, we insist on reliability, and making our products affordable and available to all.
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO!
The Light Challenge
The majority of rural families in Benin light their homes at night using kerosene lamps. These lamps are an unsatisfactory technology. They are dim, cost about $50 per year to keep constantly fueled, significantly reduce indoor air quality, consume fossil fuels, and cause frequent fires and injuries amongst children. Alternatives, like batteries and candles, are less than adequate as well. Solar lights provide far brighter illumination, and cost no money to operate, as they are charged by the sun. They cost $25-$80 per unit, and pay for themselves in less than a years’ time for most households. After the payback period, they generate continuous cost savings for extremely poor households. Because the quality of light is brighter, they also result in as many as 20% more study hours amongst children. Yet despite the proliferation of solar light manufacturing companies, solar lights have achieved less than 0.5% distribution rates in Sub-Sahara Africa. This problem is particularly acute in rural Africa, which is the primary potential market for these lights because they are off the electric grid and pay on average 35% higher prices for kerosene than in urban areas.
NOVI's Approach
The Solar Benin Energy Project
Currently, dozens of solar light companies specialize in the manufacture of solar lights, but rely on existing limited distribution networks to reach potential customers. Unfortunately, existing distribution networks typically follow the electric grid and don’t provide access to rural market demands. This is where Olou Koucoi, NOVI's founder saw an opportunity to fill a gap and create jobs. Olou initiated a sales and marketing project that focuses exclusively on bringing solar energy and innovative life-improving products to those living in the most remote corners of his home country, Benin.
Solar Benin Energy is a solar electrification project based in Savalou, central Benin. Solar Benin Energy aims to bring innovative low cost solar energy systems to rural households by partnering with manufacturers worldwide and implementing a cost effective and highly impactful door to door distribution channel. We aim to be the recognized leader in bringing renewable energy solutions to rural households in Benin and Francophone West Africa.
OUR COMMUNITY
Oloufounmi Koucoi-Our Founder and Director
Olou has years of experience designing and implementing development programs and organizations across Africa. A native of Benin (West Africa), he earned a B.S. in Environmental Management and Urban Sanitation before coming to the U.S. in 2008. He worked at the Ohio State University for a year and then moved to Philadelphia where he served America through the national service program Americorps. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a M.S. in Nonprofit/NGO Leadership.
Olou's passion for social change and village well-being has led to the Solar Benin Energy Project. He is in charge of the design and development of our distribution strategy. In addition to his leadership role, Olou is responsible for finding new life improving products and maintaining strong relationships with manufacturers and investors. He also oversees all marketing and branding efforts.
Gabin A. Koucoi–Chargee du Control Technique et Certification
Herve Binazon-Our Program Coordinator
Mr. Gabin Koucoi is a solar energy and energy efficiency expert. He earned a B.S. in Phisics before pursuing a Master’s and an Engineering degree in Renewable Energy/Solar Energy & Electricity from 2IE (Institut International de l’Eau et de l’Environnement) in Burkina-Faso. He is a doctorate student working on a joint U.N. and 2IE project. He spends half the year in France working with various Energy Companies. Gabin oversees our products specifications and their reliability. He helps us design and test new products and provide detailed data on solar equipment and their performance in the African environment.
Herve is a social entrepreneur, farmer, and group leader. He earned a B.A. in English with a teaching certificate. Prior to joining Solar Benin Energy, he served as a head English teacher in a High School and was the co-founder of a social enterprise.
Aron Heintz-Our Sustainable Living, Collaboration Advisor & Funder
Mr. Aron Heintz, innovator and social entrepreneur, promotes sustainable lifestyles -- life by design. He developed said skills by traveling off beaten paths, after retiring from IPDR.org, where he presided over collaborative development supported by over 50 companies worldwide. Previously, as Chief Technology Officer of RateIntegration, Inc., he designed, implemented, and patented their flagship product. Mr. Heintz holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Yale University, where he was inducted into Tau Beta Pi engineering academic honor society.
Umi Howard-Organizational Development Advisor
Director of The Lipman Family Prize at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania
Berenger Hountondji–Accountant and Financial Advisor
Igor S.S. Koucoi–Online marketing and Graphic Design Specialist
David Crawford, Kristin Strong & Jessica Fell-Peace Corp Volunteers
OUR PARTNERS
