BLS Tokens & Decentralized Energy Access
In a world where technology is rapidly evolving and innovating at breakneck speed, there are nearly a billion people without access to a technology which was invented nearly two centuries ago i.e. electricity. This problem is acutely prevalent in Latin America where nearly 30 million people do not enjoy supply of electricity and subsequently the various tools that are powered by it which ultimately are partly responsible for the poverty trap it creates for them. Electricity, being the infrastructural requirement for any technology, is a necessity for any population that wants to function productively for a better future.
What’s worse is that among those who are able to access electricity have to depend on inefficient sources like kerosene, plastic, biomass which besides being hazardous are also more expensive and unsustainable for the environment. The CO2 emissions are the chief cause of health related problems in rural households. According to different studies 3.5 million premature deaths occur each year are linked to smoky indoor environments.
There are many major challenges to meet energy requirements in Latin America. Price volatility, fossil fuel shortages, governmental regulations on fossil fuel prices, geopolitical settings, power outages and climate change mitigation are major key variables that need to be considered to address energy security. However, the Latin America presents a vast amount of non-conventional-renewable-energy sources such as wind and solar which can be exploited to address power reliability and energy security. And that is where the silver lining lies.
This is the solution that BitLumens is building, by providing off-grid solar devices to households where the government hasn’t been able to provide electricity and also at households that are currently using expensive sources for energy like kerosene. By leveraging solar devices, BitLumens aims to electrify rural areas in poor communities, and help bring CO2 emissions down by using a sustainable energy sources. In short, our platform gives kerosene, wood or plastic-dependent households immediate access to cleaner, safer, and affordable energy in Latin America.
Our solar devices are purchased by the rural population, especially women, through a leasing agreement. The devices are installed by our agents. BitLumens token (BLS) are needed to run BitLumens devices which generate power for electricity or water (see Figure 1).
We believe that clean energy should not remain luxury since its cost competitive and more efficient than other energy sources.
