Illuminating the Pecking Order in Off-Grid Lighting

A Demonstration of LED Lighting for Saving Energy in the Poultry Sector

The Lumina Project and Lighting Africa conducted a full-scale field test involving a switch from kerosene to solar-LED lighting for commercial broiler chicken production at an off-grid farm in Kenya. The test achieved lower operating costs, produced substantially more light, improved the working environment, and had no adverse effect on yields. A strategy using conventional solar fluorescent lighting also achieved comparable yields, but entailed a six-fold higher capital cost and significantly higher recurring battery replacement costs. Thanks to higher energy and optical efficiencies, the LED system provided approximately twice the illumination to the chicken production area and yet drew less than half the power.

Resource Type: Quality Assurance

Country: Africa, Kenya

Language: English