2.4 billion people have no access to clean energy sources. Bottom of pyramid (BoP) consumers devote many hours to the daily collection of firewood while other sources such as charcoal and kerosene can cost up to $2-$3 a week out of a $7 family income. The indoor pollution created by dirty fuels kill more people every year than malaria. In addition to the health problems caused, these fuels are expensive in terms of monetary value, time and social cost. A clean energy alternative is...

Out of the 7 billion people on our planet, 1.4 billion still live in extreme poverty, meaning they have to survive on less than US$1.25 a day. Worldwide, 70% of those extreme poor live in rural areas (World Bank, 2012) – most of them in developing countries. Given the forecasts of a 50% increase in the population by 2050 (IFAD, 2011), of which the majority will be in developing countries, the fight against rural poverty can no longer be postponed. Poverty in rural areas has several causes. One...