He mentions WakaWaka as a serious replacement for kerosene lamps: “a potentially big project based on a little device”. He even experienced living without electricity himself. During his childhood he and his family lived on a small farm with no access to electricity. Here kerosene lamps were used on a daily basis.
Dr. Hansen is generally known for his climatological research and the 1998 testimony on climate change, in which he helped raise awareness for global warming. Greatly recommended by Al Gore, Hansen can call himself an authority on the subject.