While solar energy may feel new to us here in the industrial world, it is, in fact, as old as the sun and humanity. From the beginning humans have learned to use the sun for drying clothes, cooking food, and heating water. Nonetheless, people in the developing world today are well behind industrialized countries such as the U.S., China, and the European Union.
The fact is, these countries are prime candidates for solar energy. Many citizens are without electricity and well off the grid. Solar electric and solar thermal systems would be perfect solutions for delivering clean energy in a fast way to the people who need it most. And it’s not just electricity that solar delivers. Solar collectors are used all over the world to heat water and cook food for communities that are not made of subdivisions and modern kitchens.
Fortunately, I am far from the first person to think this up. There are a slew of organizations working to bring solar power to the developing world. Solar-aid and the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) are just two. Look here to find an excellent article and links to other helpful organizations.