This “boot-strap” approach is based on the use of photovoltaics – a simple, universal, and scalable technology that is easy to maintain. Typically, in the first stage of this process, consumers would use a renewable energy source such as LED lighting, selling any surplus until they save enough money to buy lamp oil (on which Africans spend around $20 billion annually).
这种“自给自足”的方法基于光伏技术的应用——这是一种简单、普遍、容易维护和拓展的技术。通常过程的第一阶段消费者会使用一种可再生能源（如LED照明），并将多余能源出售攒钱购买灯油（非洲人每年要花200亿美元购买灯油）。