Life Saving Solar | Green Energy News

January 25, 2004 – Vol.8 No.44

LIFE-SAVING SOLAR.

A little-known fact: Many life-sparing drugs and vaccines require constant refrigeration. And some drugs, such as those for treating HIV/AIDS or cancer must be taken multiple times each day, every day. To make sure this takes place refrigerated drugs must be near those in treatment, easily accessible and occasionally transported.

Refrigeration requires refrigerators and a power supply to run them. But, unfortunately in parts the undeveloped world - where the most cases of HIV/AIDS are occurring for instance - reliable power to operate refrigerators isn’t available. Thus, the battle against life-threatening diseases requires reliable energy. Solar is one option.

Kyocera Solar, which has already sold over a 1000 solar-powered vaccine refrigerators known as VaccPaks, has expanded its line to include one with a capacity of more than 50 liters.

The new refrigerator, the XL6000, has been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Kyocera claims its solar refrigerator line is the most efficient of those approved by WHO guidelines. The VaccPak will be used to replace kerosene fueled refrigerator packages already in use. VaccPaks can also be expanded to supply electricity for other applications such as lighting.

Kyocera will begin shipping the new model to Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania early in 2004.

Kyocera also sells packaged solar-powered solutions for other remote applications such as water pumping, lighting and a variety of communications needs. Visit Kyocera Solar at http://www.kyocerasolar.com/ .