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SolarAid Executive Director Nick Sireau was elected as a fellow of the Ashoka Global Association of Social Entrepreneurs in January 2010, reflecting SolarAid's rapidly growing credibility as a social enterprise.

Ashoka was set up in 1981 and brings together 2,000 leading social entrepreneurs from around the world, providing them with access to a global network of peers in more than 60 countries. Ashoka develops models for collaboration to advance the field of social entrepreneurship and the citizen sector.

Nick was elected following a stringent selection process involving several stages of meetings, interviews, references and information gathering. He is one of only two fellows elected by Ashoka UK this year.

'I'm extremely pleased to be elected an Ashoka fellow,' Nick said. 'Ashoka is an amazing network that will hugely benefit SolarAid as we seek to scale up our work.'

To read the Ashoka summary profile of Nick Sireau, click here.

For more information on Ashoka, go to: www.ashoka.org

We are delighted to announce that SolarAid has been shortlisted for the prestigious, New Energy Rising Star award, at the Rosenblatt New Energy Awards 2010.

Hosted in London's Natural History Museum, the event taking place February 25 recognises charities that have made an outstanding contribution to the renewable energy sector over the past 12 months.

The ceremony celebrates small renewable-energy businesses that create a buzz in the market. Judged on innovation, potential and influence on government policy it rewards ambition and vision.

SolarAid has had an award winning twelve months. In September 2009 we were presented with the Corporate Social Responsibility of the Year award and in November our very own Campaigner and Volunteer, Gwyn Roberts was rewarded for all his hard work by receiving the Archant Environmentalist of the Year award.

With the success of The Times Christmas Charity Appeal and recent approval for Gold Standard credits in Sub Saharan Africa, 2010 is set to be an even better year.

In May 2009 three cyclists set out on a 12,000 mile round-the-world trip powered by the Sun.

From Europe to the Middle East, Susie Wheeldon, Iain Henderson and Jamie Vining have certainly built up their leg muscles and raised plenty of money as well. Currently in the USA the team have been topping speeds of over 60 kph in their quest to conquer the huge land mass. Now in Louisiana, the adventurers are experiencing treacherous roads, torrential rain and tornado warnings.

Braving the elements in St. Louis: The team are nearing the finish line of their US leg.

This is in stark contrast to conditions experienced in the relentless heat of the Sahara desert last summer. Highlighting the energy available to Africa in the form of the Sun, the trip, though exhausting continues to raise awareness about renewable energy and its potential in Africa.

The expedition is raising awareness of solar as a solution to climate change, world energy needs and the fight against poverty.

To catch up with the team please visit their blog for tales of adventure and cramp!

You can also support them and SolarAid as they continue the last leg of their amazing journey.

A small but significant step was achieved on Friday 15 January when the Gold Standard (the world's highest quality mark for carbon credits) formally approved SolarAid's first 35 carbon credits for SolarAid's solar lamp replacement project in Malawi. Seventy more credits are on their way, with thousands more forecast over the coming years as we scale up.

We have been told that this is the first time the Gold Standard has approved carbon credits anywhere in Sub-Saharan Africa - so we are pioneering the way ahead, even though it's a small number at the moment.

The Gold Standard is the most stringent approval process existing for the approval of carbon credits. Run by a coalition of more than 60 NGOs, it assesses carbon credits on the basis of CO2 reduction and grassroots development criteria.

The Gold Standard website is www.cdmgoldstandard.org.

Our project in Malawi involves scaling up a network of solar entrepreneurs who sell solar lamps in order to replace kerosene lamps. Our research shows that the average household in Malawi produces one tonne of CO2 every 14 years from the kerosene they consume for lighting. Hence replacing kerosene usage leads to reductions in CO2, which we monitor and verify in order to generate the carbon credits.

Please help SolarAid support Malawian entrepreneurs by making a donation here.

Another excellent SolarAid feature is available online.

The Times Christmas Appeal is asking readers to help SolarAid to phase out deadly kerosene lamps in Africa.

For a young man, it seemed a strange ambition. "I wanted light," said Sidius Nyirenda, 18, a student in rural Malawi. "I knew if I could read and study at night, I could do really well in my exams," he explained...

Read the full article here

As 2009 draws to a close, SolarAid is growing in both stature and ambition.

For a round up of all the latest news and information on SolarAid please click here.

We were featured in another great article yesterday:

The Times Christmas Appeal is asking readers to help SolarAid to phase out deadly kerosene lamps in Africa.

The habitat surrounding the small health centre in Idodi village is both beautiful and savage. The long grass and bush, home to snakes and scorpions, roll out towards distant mountains that mark the outer borders of the fabled Ruaha National Park, one of the most desirable destinations for Western tourists seeking an "authentic taste of Africa"...

Read the full article here

It's been an amazing fifteen months for our inspirational Volunteer turned SolarAid employee Miguel Ramirez. Way back in September 2008 Miguel won the World of Difference award from the Vodafone Foundation, allowing him to spend a year working with SolarAid full time.

Miguel with Robert, head of the Kibera Solar Youth Fellowship group.

Miguel has been a very busy man, fulfilling our mission to provide solar technology to the remotest areas of Southern and Eastern Africa. Throughout his time Miguel has provided first hand and inspirational accounts of the good work SolarAid is accomplishing via his blog:

"Just a few weeks ago I signed a contract with a headmaster of a primary school to receive solar panels from SolarAid. I don't think I have ever seen a happier man!"

SolarAid's mission is to provide a million lights to Southern and Eastern Africa by 2015. Our brilliant team of volunteers and campaigners, with their passion and drive will give us every chance of meeting or even surpassing this number.

We thank all our team for their hard work, inspiration and enthusiasm. Please help us reach our targets and support us.

I'm writing from the train on our way into Copenhagen. Having survived the choppy waters of the North Sea and a rail replacement bus service...we are almost at our destination, and have not been more than a few metres above sea level! It has been a bit of an adventure, but proves it is possible and enjoyable to travel in a low carbon way!

The journey gave me the chance to work without the distraction of my ever-increasing addiction to emails and also to contemplate the potential trials and tribulations of the COP15 which starts today. According to my calculations our emissions have been 48kgs verses an astounding 286kgs per person each way if we had all flown.

SolarAid have been invited by the Danish Nature Conservancy Council to exhibit at The Copenhagen Climate Exchange and will also be attending the Klimaforum 09. Both are alternative platforms to allow NGOs, the public and people of the Global South to have their say, exchange ideas and learn more about creative ways to cooperate and move forward in the face of the 'Triple Crunch' (for more info, go to www.jeremyleggett.net).

SolarAid's Katie Bliss and David Battley at SolarAid's stand at The Copenhagen Climate Exchange. Photo by Steve Woodward.

It could not be a more pertinent time to think about the nexus of energy, poverty and climate change in developing nations. The less fortunate regions in the world are more vulnerable than most in the face of climate change and peak oil. The climate is already changing, and hitting small scale producers hard. One devastating manifestation being the severe droughts we have seen the last few months across East Africa. The economic repercussions are ongoing. Moreover, on average over 20% of household incomes are spent on fossil fuel energy sources, and prices are rising dramatically, especially in more remote areas.

During the build up to the UN conference, it is likely the debate of whether poorer nations should have to commit to the same emissions reductions as richer nations shall continue. A highly complex and politicised issue which we will not delve into. However, some are proposing that, on top of commitments to emissions reductions from all nations, the wealthier countries should also commit to financing climate action in poorer nations which have not had the same opportunities for industrialisation. If this decision is made, care must be taken in the type of projects financed, ensuring it capitalises on the vast human capital in the Global South, building long term, sustainable solutions.

SolarAid's work offers the entrepreneurial people in developing regions the opportunity to build up their own micro-solar enterprises, increase their own incomes whilst improving the livelihoods of their communities and reducing dependency on fossil fuels. It seems clear that the work of SolarAid, and other similar organisations, is a key component in tackling the crisis.

SolarAid's Chairman and member of the Green New Deal group, Jeremy Leggett, is also in town during the COP15 negotiations. Jeremy forms part of the Global Observatory, a strategic media group of voices from around the world, designed to ensure a strong outcome of the COP15 talks.

For more details go to www.globalobservatory.net. You can also follow Jeremy on Twitter or visit his website, www.jeremyleggett.net).

Support climate and energy justice. Please donate to SolarAid today and help a solar entrepreneur to change lives for a brighter, cleaner future!

Three SolarAid representatives have just arrived in Copenhagen, to take part in a pre-summit conference - The Copenhagen Climate Exhange - as all eyes are on the city in the lead up to next week's long awaited COP15 negotiations.

The sponsors of the conference have kindly provided sponsorship, allowing SolarAid to have a presence at this high-profile event at no cost.

Programmes Manager Katie, together with two star SolarAid volunteers David and Steve have made their way overland. They took a ferry to Ebsjerg, followed by train and bus connection to get to the Danish capital. This way the team will have lessened their carbon footprint as much as possible.

We look forward to updating you with news from the trio on the ground and at the conference soon!