Abstract
The focus of this project was to work with local staff at Kathmandu Alternative Power and Energy Group to commercialise a product which would generate recurring income for the organisation, to enable staff to learn the process of commercialisation and to provide employment and skills in the local community. Rechargeable Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps were deemed suitable for these aims, as they are a simple product, yet one that is urgently required in Nepal due to the prevalence of ‘load-shedding’ – scheduled electrical blackouts. After reviewing the market, it was found that it would be impossible to compete with the price of cheap imported Chinese rechargeable LED lamps, so an alternative approach was taken. This involved sourcing wooden off-cuts from a local furniture factory and transforming them into attractive desk lamps, with the target market being affluent Nepalis, ex-pats living in Nepal and tourists. Successful initial sales were achieved through a Kathmandu-based ex-pat email group, hotel-markets and souvenir stores. KAPEG staff have continued the project, producing variations on the initial design including Himalayan rock salt lamps, employing local people to manufacture lamps and selling them at markets in Kathmandu. Staffing and marketing challenges remain to ensure the lamp manufacture and sales continue.
Highlights
Kathmandu Alternative Power and Energy Group (KAPEG) is a small organisation located in a village near Dhulikhel, Nepal, which is striving to develop and commercialise alternative energy products which will help people in Nepal improve their access to electricity (Freere et al, 2008)
KAPEG staff are all university educated with Engineering degrees, there is a lack of commercialisation experience in the team – a skill which is vital if products such as wind turbines and micro-hydropower are to be a success
Since the author’s departure from Nepal, work on the Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps has continued, at a reduced pace. This is due to various issues, including turnover of staff at KAPEG and the ongoing problem of KAPEG being committed to many projects. It remains to be seen whether the LED lamps become a profitable product for KAPEG, due to the issues listed above
Summary
Kathmandu Alternative Power and Energy Group (KAPEG) is a small organisation located in a village near Dhulikhel, Nepal, which is striving to develop and commercialise alternative energy products which will help people in Nepal improve their access to electricity (Freere et al, 2008). KAPEG aims to keep the financial benefits from their work within Nepal by building products locally and developing a worldclass professional Engineering team. KAPEG is set up as a company, owned by its staff, with a charter that states that any profits will be invested in the community. KAPEG staff are all university educated with Engineering degrees, there is a lack of commercialisation experience in the team – a skill which is vital if products such as wind turbines and micro-hydropower are to be a success. As part of EWB Australia’s volunteer placement scheme, the author, who has over 8 years of product commercialisation experience, worked with the team at KAPEG for 5 months with the aim of imparting commercialisation skills and beginning the process of creating recurring revenue through commercialisation of a product. It was suggested that an LED lighting product warranted further investigation as a suitable candidate
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