Two solar lanterns sit atop 24-inch stakes and two decorative balls sit atop 18-inch stakes, with four 39-inch connecting chains included.

"Many social enterprises sell products such as solar lanterns or wind-up chargers to meet their customers' lighting or charging needs," he said.

COO Nina Marsalek emphasized how microfinance collaborations can make solar lanterns accessible to everyone.

If the islanders were not able to pay for solar lanterns with cash, reasoned the project developers, they can pay with crops.

By 2012 46,00,000 solar lanterns and 861,654 solar powered home lights have been installed.

He could fit all his worldly positions into a rollaboard, and yet he owns a solar lantern, the first man in his village to buy one.

He has worked on several "Greenathons," which is a media campaign to expand the electrical system to rural areas and finance solar lanterns in order to bring light to homes.

Anoj Viswanathan was inspired by the impact of a $10 solar lantern sold on credit to the extremely poor in tribal Orissa.

SolarAid aims to convert every single kerosene lamp in Africa into a solar lantern.

Testing of solar lanterns is now undertaken at ECDD.