KAMWORKS
LOCATION
CAMBODIA
SECTOR
RENEWABLE ENERGY
YEAR OF INVESTMENT
2013
Need
Six million people in rural Cambodia have no access to energy. Despite abundant sunlight and a rural population eager for reliable sources of electricity, limited financing and credit services for rural households, as well as difficulties in last-mile distribution, hamper energy availability and after-sales service. For lighting, rural Cambodians often rely on kerosene lamps or candles, which are harmful to health and prone to cause fires in the wooden or thatched dwellings most commonly found in rural areas.
Solution
Kamworks, established in 2006, is the leading solar energy company in Cambodia, providing a range of solar technologies, from pay-as-you-go solar home systems to rooftop solar systems for schools and large buildings. Customers now have several options to acquire a solar home system, with financing provided via microfinance loans or crowdfunding.
Impact
Kamworks has already impacted over 220,000 rural lives, having sold more than 14,000 solar home systems in Cambodia. An example is the case of Thea, who runs a restaurant and lives only an hour outside Phonm Penh, but still lacks a grid connection. In late 2014, Thea subscribed to Kamworks’ solar home system rental offer. Interviewed a year later, she said “Our life is much better. We have four LED lamps; we find it easy to charge our devices; we know when the system has discharged. And every six months we get a free maintenance visit by Kamworks’ technicians.”
