Current News

On July 14, 2010, Sunlabob dispatched a new batch of solar lanterns to two villages in Uganda, Saazi and Bussi.

Sunlabob’s franchisee, TSSD, is currently in the process of handing out the lamps to another 20 villages.

In 2008, Sunlabob launched a south-south business initiative with Ugandan company TSSD. Now solar powered charging stations are operating in a number of remote Ugandan villages. The franchise came about thanks to a prize won at the World Bank Group's Lighting Africa Development Marketplace in 2008.

To watch a video of Sunlabob’s venture into Africa, please click here.

Sunlabob has collaborated with Khiri Reach, a not-for-profit division of the Khiri Travel Group that supports sustainable non-profit projects in Asia, to bring solar systems to remote villages in Laos. The "Lights to the Community" project aims to install solar powered lights in Laos' remote villages that are off the national grid and do not have access to electricity.

The Khiri-Sunlabob partnership is rather unique. Khiri collects donations from their customers (tourists in the region) and use the donations for sustainable projects in the region. Sunlabob then supplies its technical know-how and builds solar systems on behalf of Khiri, before transferring ownership of the systems to the villages. Maintenance costs are collected as donations from Khiri’s clients through the same system.

Many benefits arise from lighting up villages. Villages need light at communal places such as water wells, medical health centres (which need refrigerators to store medicine) and community houses. These places are used by most people of the village at regular intervals.

In June 2010, Khiri Reach proceeded with the project and Sunlabob installed a solar lighting system in Ban Nakoun village, Borikhamxay Province. The solar system will benefit 95 families in the village, where it will be used for activities such as farming and weaving.

For more information about the “Lights to the Community” project, please check out the Khiri Reach website.

On July 1, Sunlabob conducted maintenance checks on independent solar street lights at Lao Tobacco Limited.

The solar street lights were installed in the company’s factory compound in 2006 and are used to provide light for workers during the night.

During the maintenance checks, Sunlabob engineers used state-of-the-art equipment to conduct in-depth electrical testing on the solar lights and batteries, and replaced the parts that had worn out due to age.

Independent solar street lights are fast gaining popularity because they offer exceptional lighting whilst, at the same time, produce considerable economic and environmental savings. The whole system is powered by a Solar Photovoltaic Panel and is completely independent from utility power.

The installation of solar street lights at Lao Tobacco certainly marked the first step in paving the way for access to low energy consumption lights for streets/roads in Laos.

For more information on Sunlabob’s solar street lights, please visit our High power LED street light section.

A brand new range of E-Cycles is now available at Sunlabob.

The new line-up includes two-wheelers of all shapes and sizes, including a pair of children’s bikes. For adults, Sunlabob offers a range of styles, including the usual choices of mountain bikes and utility bikes.

Sunlabob’s E-Cycles are ideal for commuting, or simply for a leisurely ride with a thought for the environment. They also offer a silent and smooth transportation solution, and are inexpensive to operate and refuel.

The E-Cycle has a high tech lightweight battery and running gear attached to the rear wheel that can power the cycle up to speeds of 30km/h without any peddling assistance of the rider. The rider controls the speed of the E-Cycle with the throttle on the handlebar in the same fashion as a motorbike.

On June 17-18, a representative from Sunlabob attended the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Business Forum in Yangon, Myanmar.

The forum, which was the 2nd one held in the country, promoted awareness about renewable energy and energy efficiency in Myanmar. The objective of the conference was to form focal points for renewable energy, facilitate dialogue on the challenges and opportunities in private sector renewable energy businesses, and explore opportunities to collaborate with international corporations for new technological development.

The forum gave delegates from all over the world the opportunity to network and learn about the renewable energy business in Myanmar. Many experienced speakers were also present to share their views on renewable energy issues.

In June 2010, Sunlabob completed an energy efficiency baseline study for the process facilities on Phu Bia Mining Limited’s Phu Kham copper gold mine.

Based on the plant's energy consumption data collected over a 6 month observation period from 1 October 2009 to 31 March 2010, the aim of the study was to present a baseline analysis of the plant's average electricity consumption, as a first step to become more energy efficient in the future. The study also suggested a number of tailored energy conservation measures to increase the energy efficiency of the existing electrical power system.

Furthermore, Phu Bia Mining Limited has also requested Sunlabob to conduct a more in depth energy audit of its camp site and office buildings in August 2010.

On May 28, Sunlabob entered into a promising partnership with Auroville Energy Products¹ (AEP) of India and C.B Energy Co. Ltd² of Tanzania. The partnership, which is based on a one year reciprocal exchange of young participants in the framework of the South-South programme initiated by Norwegian government agency, Fredskorpset (FK), was finalised following a successful meeting at the Sunlabob headquarters in Vientiane from May 24 to 28.

Through the South-South programme, FK links countries and partners in the South that appear on the current DAC list of developing countries to mutually benefit from a 1-year exchange of young professionals. The partners in the network elect between them a primary partner in the south, that acts on behalf of the network and carries its duties and responsibilities vis-à-vis Fredskorpset. The exchange enables people with similar professional backgrounds or interests to learn from one another and contribute to competency building and raising awareness.

On June 2, 2010, Sunlabob donated 10 Solar Home Systems to the Lao Red Cross in Vientiane to aid victims of Cyclone Ketsana. This was in support of a fund raising activity co-organised by the French Chamber of Commerce in Laos (CCIFL) and the Lao Red Cross.

Cyclone Ketsana claimed at least 24 lives in Laos after wreaking havoc in the Philippines and Vietnam in September last year. The natural catastrophe left much of southern Laos under water and caused extensive damage to roads, irrigation networks, schools, hospitals and government offices.

Sunlabob hopes that the Solar Home Systems would help improve the lives of villagers affected by the aftermath of the Cyclone.

In May 2010, Sunlabob entered into an exclusive partnership with eco:factum, a consulting firm advising companies in the renewable energy environment seeking for appropriate projects to fulfill their corporate responsibility commitment.

An effective commitment requires not always a lot of money, but it requires know-how, labor resources, time, suitable projects and the right partners. Therefore eco:factum and its network partners provide a wide range of services to its clients e.g. CSR-consulting, project-management, marketing and communication.

To put eco:factum´s clients corporate responsibility commitment into action the collaboration will focus on introducing Sunlabob's renewable energy solutions into poverty stricken remote areas in Laos. Both companies will leverage on each other's experience in CSR activities, and formulate socially responsible strategies that would benefit the poorest of the poor in Laos.

In May 2010, Sunlabob, in cooperation with the Lao Red Cross (LRC) and Ourworld Rural Development, organised a hygiene training session for Khangkhae villagers in Xieng Khouang province.

Over 80 villagers attended the 5-hr training session, during which topics such as water quality support, environmental protection, hygienic toilet usage and proper hand washing techniques were covered. The villagers were very enthusiastic about learning and actively participated in group activities and demonstrations.

Sunlabob is no stranger to development initiatives in Xieng Khouang province. In March this year, Sunlabob installed a solar pump system in Khangkhae village to support a water purification system from Ourworld Rural Development.

Sunlabob Director Andy Schroeter has been invited to conduct a workshop at The 5th Global YES Summit - Rework the World, to be held in Leksand, Sweden from June 2-5. Over 2000 people from all over the world will be attending this renown summit, and the focus will be on 100 carefully selected initiatives that could provide the jobs of the future and help build a more socially, financially and ecologically sustainable world.

Over 135 projects will be featured at the summit, and Andy’s workshop on expanding solar energy use with rental models will be one of 55 workshops. The purpose of these workshops is for projects to present what new and innovative thinking they are bringing and also what challenges they are facing to go forward.

For more information on the The 5th Global YES Summit - Rework the World, please click here.

In Mar 2010, Sunlabob conducted an information session on the commissioning of the Solar Lantern Rental System (SLRS) in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The purpose of the session, organised and funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Afghanistan Small and Medium Enterprise Development (ASMED), and Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), was to educate potential Afghanistan partners on the lantern program. In 4 days, the comprehensive session covered topics such as installation, maintenance and troubleshooting issues, operational concepts, financial issues, and community facilitation with regards to the lantern approach.

In 2008, Sunlabob launched a south-south business initiative with Ugandan company TSSD. Now solar powered charging stations are operating in a number of remote Ugandan villages. The franchise came about thanks to a prize won at the World Bank Group's Lighting Africa Development Marketplace in 2008.

This proves that Sunlabob has once again spearheaded an innovative approach that has worldwide potential in rural electrification.

Watch this video for Sunlabob's venture into Uganda.

LIRE, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the sustainable development of a self sufficient renewable energy sector in the Lao PDR, has just released their Annual Report for 2009.
Sunlabob is a commercial partner to LIRE and was instrumental in its foundation in 2006 along with other educational institutions and corporate organisations. The institute offers agronomical, technological and socioeconomic research services, and works to provide a free public resource of information and advice on the use of renewable energy technologies in Laos.

 

9 April 2010 marked a significant milestone for Sunlabob as it celebrated its 10th anniversary.

The day long celebrations started in the morning with Baci; a traditional Lao ceremony that is performed to bless the company with good luck and prosperity. This was followed by a party in the afternoon that saw plenty of traditional Lao dishes and beer going around. In true Lao spirit, staff also started water fights to mark the start of the Lao New Year which was to be celebrated the following week.

Sunlabob is proud to announce that it has been awarded the National Energy Globe Award for Laos for the third consecutive year. Its project “Implementing village hybrid grids to improve rural livelihoods” was selected by the international Energy Globe Jury, and the award will be presented at the Energy Globe national ceremony on 3 June in Rwanda’s capital Kigali.

Over 800 projects, presenting successful sustainable environmental initiatives or that employ renewable energy, are submitted from all over the world to compete for this annual award in the categories Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Youth.

For more information, please visit the Energy Globe website.

This year’s National Design Triennial exhibition, organised by Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution in New York, will take place from 14 May 2010 to 9 January 2011. Entitled "Why Design Now?", the exhibition explores how designers are addressing human and environmental problems. Inaugurated in 2000, the Triennial series seeks out and presents the most innovative, forward-thinking designs at the centre of contemporary culture from the previous three years. This year’s exhibition showcases design solutions that promote environmental stewardship, social equity, accessibility and creative capital in more than 125 projects worldwide.

Spotted at the 2008 Tech Awards, in which Sunlabob’s SLRS was a laureate, the system will feature in the exhibition’s Energy category along with 18 other projects. A complete system will be displayed on a mock stand, including solar panels, a charging station, and six lanterns. In addition, the SLRS will have information, including video and audio material, presented on the exhibition’s iPod touch system – a walk-through device.

Beyond the actual design of the SLRS, the other features that attracted the museum curators to Sunlabob’s product include its innovativeness, mobility, sustainability, community engagement, and reuse and recycling of waste materials.

If you happen to be in New York during the exhibition, don’t miss it!

Please read the full press release about the National Design Triennial exhibition.