Shaking off the energy crisis: how far can kinetic deliver on its promises?

#Energy Children in rural Kenya are using a percussion shaker to produce reading light, reducing reliance on kerosene lamps

When the sun sets in Kenya, tens of millions of people set about the daily challenge of lighting their homes. Some 80% of the population lives off-grid, according to the World Bank, while 550m people across Africa lack access to electricity. Despite the rise of solar technology, burning kerosene oil is still commonplace for many Kenyans, a practice that weighs heavily on the household purse and exposes families to noxious fumes.

Sudha Kheterpal, the former percussionist with the band Faithless, has developed a prototype percussion shaker to help children in rural Kenya gain access to a few hours' extra light and learn about renewable energy. Shaken for 12 minutes, it can yield an hour of power.

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