FirstClimate – Cameroon

Swiss Partners

First Climate (Switzerland) AG, Zürich,
www.firstclimate.com,
Nikolaus Wohlgemuth, Alexander Lüchinger

Project Type:

Pilot project

Technology:

Energy efficiency

Country:

Cameroon

Project Status:

Completed

Project Start:

2011

End of Project:

2013

Contract:

2011.19

Documentation

Swiss Contribution

First Climate has over 10 years’ experience in developing and trading carbon credits in the compliance, as well as in the voluntary market. It will work together with the local project developer S2 Services SARL in order to implement projects that can meet the requirements of western investors.

Description

The main objective of this project is to provide Cameroon’s off grid rural population with affordable, environmental and user friendly, practical, healthy and safe lighting systems to replace kerosene lamps. For the moment, over 50% of Cameroonian population is not connected to the electricity grid.

To provide poor populations with better lighting sources, Nuru Energy has developed the so-called Nuru Light. This novel system is currently being used in Rwanda. The technology consists of a LED light with incorporated battery and a human powered pedal used to recharge the light. First Climate’s intention is to enable replication of the business model from Rwanda to Cameroon, working together with a Cameroon based project developer (S2 Services SARL).

With this project, First Climate will try a new model by getting more involved in the project from the beginning and supporting its development, implementation and financing. Their business model for Africa has been to source carbon credits from Switzerland and has had limited success.