Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

Chedza Solar Backpack is a clean-tech educational toolkit innovation, designed to address both energy poverty and climate change in off-grid and underserved communities across Africa. Developed by Ked-LiphiBw, the backpack integrates a durable solar panel, rechargeable battery system, LED lighting and USB charging port into an everyday school backpack, enabling access to renewable electricity without reliance on fossil fuels.

In many rural African communities, students and households depend on kerosene lamps, candles or diesel generators for lighting and device charging sources that are costly, unsafe and carbon intensive. Chedza Solar Backpack replaces these high-emission energy sources by providing a decentralized, zero-emission solar alternative that can be used daily for studying, lighting, phone charging and basic household energy needs.

Beyond emissions reduction, Chedza Solar Backpack delivers measurable social and environmental co-benefits. It improves educational outcomes by allowing students to study after dark, enhances safety by reducing indoor air pollution and fire risk and builds climate awareness through hands-on exposure to renewable energy technology. Each backpack acts as both a clean-energy device and a learning tool that demonstrates practical climate solutions at the household level.

Since its launch in 2020, Chedza Solar Backpack has been manufactured and deployed in multiple African communities, supported through partnerships with governments, NGOs, corporations and international institutions. The solution is designed for scalability and local manufacturing, enabling widespread replication while creating green jobs and supporting sustainable economic development.

By replacing fossil-fuel-based lighting and charging with solar power, Chedza Solar Backpack contributes directly to greenhouse gas reduction, accelerates renewable energy adoption and empowers the next generation with practical climate solutions making it a powerful, people-centered response to the global climate crisis.

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How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

Chedza Solar Backpack directly contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction by replacing fossil-fuel-based energy sources commonly used for lighting and device charging in off-grid and underserved communities. In many rural African households, energy needs are met using kerosene lamps, candles, disposable batteries or diesel-powered generators, all of which emit carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other harmful pollutants.

By integrating a renewable solar photovoltaic system into a daily-use backpack, Chedza Solar Backpack provides zero-emission electricity for lighting and charging mobile devices. Each backpack displaces repeated use of kerosene, battery-powered torches and generator-based charging, resulting in avoided CO₂ emissions over the product’s lifetime.

On average, a single kerosene lamp can emit approximately 100–200 kg of CO₂ per year when used regularly for lighting. By replacing these lamps with solar-powered LED lighting and USB charging, Chedza Solar Backpack helps prevent these emissions while also eliminating black carbon, a short-lived climate pollutant with a high global warming potential.

In addition to direct emissions avoidance, the project delivers system-level climate benefits:

Reduces demand for fossil-fuel-based electricity and charging services

Promotes long-term adoption of renewable energy technologies at the household level

Builds climate literacy by exposing students and families to clean-energy solutions in daily life

Because the backpack is durable, reusable and designed for multi-year use, its emissions-reduction impact compounds over time. When deployed at scale across schools and communities, Chedza Solar Backpack represents a cost-effective, decentralized climate mitigation solution that simultaneously addresses energy poverty, education access, and greenhouse gas reduction.

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Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

Chedza Solar Backpack is intentionally designed to serve underrepresented and underserved populations, particularly rural, low-income and off-grid communities across Africa that are disproportionately affected by both climate change and energy poverty.

Rural and Off-Grid Communities:
Many rural households lack access to reliable electricity and rely on kerosene lamps, candles or diesel generators for basic energy needs. These communities face higher energy costs, health risks from indoor air pollution and limited access to educational resources. Chedza Solar Backpack provides a clean, affordable, and decentralized energy solution, reducing dependence on polluting fuels while improving quality of life.

Students and Youth:
The primary beneficiaries are students in underserved schools, particularly those who lack lighting at home. Access to solar-powered lighting and device charging enables learners to study after dark, complete digital assignments and engage with modern educational tools. By integrating renewable energy into a school item used daily, the project also builds early climate literacy and awareness among young people.

Women and Girls:
Women and girls often bear the burden of household energy management and are more exposed to the health and safety risks associated with kerosene use, including respiratory illness and fire hazards. By replacing fossil-fuel based lighting with solar energy, Chedza Solar Backpack improves household safety, reduces indoor air pollution and frees time for education and income-generating activities.

Low-Income Households:
For families with limited financial resources, recurring fuel and charging costs place a significant economic strain. The backpack eliminates ongoing costs on kerosene, batteries and phone charging services, resulting in long-term cost savings while delivering reliable clean energy.

Inclusion Through Local Manufacturing and Partnerships:
The project prioritizes local manufacturing, assembly and partnerships, supporting job creation and skills development in communities that are often excluded from the clean-energy value chain. This approach ensures that climate solutions are not only delivered to underrepresented groups but are built with and by them.

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