SustainIQ and SolarAid: A Partnership for a Brighter, Greener Future

SustainIQ are proud to celebrate another year of our partnership with SolarAid, an organisation dedicated to lighting up every home, school and clinic in sub-Saharan Africa, where nearly 600 million people live without electricity.

Who Are SolarAid?

SolarAid is an international development charity founded in 2006, dedicated to combating poverty and climate change by providing clean, safe solar lights to rural and hard-to-reach areas of sub-Saharan Africa. By giving access to solar lighting, dangerous and toxic lighting sources such as kerosene lamps, paraffin candles or grass-fire inside homes are being replaced with a clean, safe alternative.

This significantly improves health, education, and economic opportunities while reducing emissions. SolarAid’s social enterprise, SunnyMoney fosters, sustainable energy infrastructure by building networks of local solar entrepreneurs in rural areas. SolarAid's mission, to light up every home, school, and clinic in Africa by 2030, ensures a brighter, safer, and more sustainable future for millions.

If you want to find out more about what SolarAid do, read more in our blog post here.

In this blog post we are going to share why we are partnered with them and some of the projects they have to support both people and the planet that our donations contribute towards.

Our Partnership
At SustainIQ, we believe in the power of better business practices to drive meaningful change. Our commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), particularly SDG 7, underscores our dedication to ensuring universal access to affordable and clean energy. This commitment is reflected in our partnership with SolarAid.

SolarAid's initiatives are transformative. By giving access to clean, safe solar lighting, and eliminating the use of harmful lighting sources, such as kerosene lamps, they not only improve the lives of individuals in sub-Saharan Africa but also play a crucial role in emission reduction. Their efforts encourage the development of renewable infrastructure, facilitating a transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. This comprehensive approach significantly contributes to carbon emissions reduction, fostering a greener and more environmentally responsible future.

We understand the importance of extending our commitment beyond individual business goals. Supporting SolarAid serves as a form of social offsetting for the carbon emissions generated by our operations, such as the running of our servers. This partnership allows us to contribute to a larger cause while addressing our own environmental impact.

SolarAid Projects

Light a Village Project

The Light a Village project by SolarAid is an innovative initiative aimed at providing solar power to the poorest and most remote areas in sub-Saharan Africa. By using an "energy as a service" model, the project ensures affordable and accessible solar home systems for households and schools, significantly improving quality of life. Local Customer Service Representatives are trained to install and repair these systems, creating sustainable income opportunities. The project's success in Malawi, highlights its potential for expansion and its role in achieving universal energy access.

Tackling E-Waste: Repair, Reuse, and Recycle

SolarAid recognises the importance of repairing, reusing, and recycling off-grid solar products to maximise their lifespan and customer value while minimising electronic waste. Since 2010, around 150 million solar products have been distributed across Africa, but, as with all electronic devices, also solar lights will at one point fail to work. It is estimated nearly 75% have now stopped working, contributing to the growing problem of e-waste. In rural areas, where recycling infrastructure is often lacking, repair offers a sustainable alternative. SolarAid trains and equips Repair Technicians, conducts community repair days, and has developed an open-source repair app to help technicians troubleshoot and repair solar products. This approach supports a circular economy, extending the life of solar lights and fostering a local repair and reuse economy.

Solar Entrepreneurs

SolarAid believes that creating a local market is the key to making long-lasting change. By training and supporting entrepreneurs to sell solar lights, they not only provide sustainable income and business opportunities but also transform beneficiaries into customers. While the structure for entrepreneurs varies across countries, all share the common support of SunnyMoney teams, who work to assist with their businesses and provide education and training for new entrepreneurs. This model enables SolarAid to reach those in the most remote areas.

Light Libraries

For some families, the cost of buying a solar light is simply out of reach. A Light Library operates like a book library but for solar lights. Families can borrow a solar light in their own homes, reducing the risk of purchasing one later.

Each school participating in the Light Library program is equipped with 20 solar lights and a solar home system that lights up classrooms, enhancing the standard of education. Students can borrow the solar lights for about 1p/day, taking them home to study, read, and socialise. This initiative not only improves educational outcomes but also promotes the use of clean, safe solar energy in the community.

Powering Health Care

Without reliable electricity, health facilities struggle to provide modern healthcare, leaving millions of people, especially children, women, and the elderly, vulnerable. An estimated 3 out of every 4 health facilities in the region lack reliable electricity, and 1 in 4 have no access to electricity at all.

This situation represents another face of poverty, limiting lives and potential. SolarAid is committed to ensuring that no clinic in Africa is left in the dark. They believe that solar power can play a vital role in solving this problem.

By working with local health partners, SolarAid is developing programs to demonstrate that plug-and-play solar systems and handheld medical appliances can create a sustainable, replicable, and scalable model. This model aims to improve access to a wider range and higher quality of healthcare serviclight for a small fee, much less than the cost of a candle. This affordable option helps build trust in solar products and allows families to experience the benefits of solar es in rural health facilities. Through these efforts, SolarAid is making significant strides in the fight against poverty and improving the lives of countless individuals.

How can I support SolarAid?

At SustainIQ, we are proud to support SolarAid in their mission to light up lives and create a sustainable future. Together, we are making a difference, one solar light at a time.

There are several ways you can support SolarAid. If the cause particularly resonates with you, you may consider making a Christmas donation to them directly, which you can do here. If you want to make a monthly donation, SolarAid will match it for the first 6 months.

If you want to know what your donation will provide, SolarAid have a calculator here, allowing you to understand the full impact of your support. There are also events, partnerships and fundraising which happen throughout the year, all of which you can learn about here.