News and views

A letter from Nancy in Zambia

Hello, I’m Nancy from the SunnyMoney Zambia office. You last heard from me in December 2015 when I wrote to share news of how my home country was in crisis due to droughts. Your response was incredible and we were able to continue our work selling affordable solar lights in rural areas in those harsh […]

Record UK solar energy generation lights up the African night

  LONDON, 21 June: As solar panels break records for UK electricity generation in May and June, the company that has installed the biggest share of them, Solarcentury, has worked out how to use the panels to light up African homes, as well as British ones. Solarcentury does this by donating 5% of its annual profits […]

SunnyMoney Malawi radio adverts

  We are very proud to share the following recording of our latest radio adverts which will be used to promote our SM100 solar lights in Malawi. The advert features the voice of SunnyMoney’s super-salesman, Brave Mhonie and the superb singing of SunnyMoney’s very own Donnex Muva in the background – here’s hoping this is heard across […]

Big Clive reviews the SM100

The infamous Big Clive from YouTube’s “un-boxing” craze has finally got his hands on an SM100 and, as is his want, taken the little solar light to pieces. SolarAid would like to point out that: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you ever, EVER, take the SM100 to bits. There’s a very good reason for this; mainly […]

SunnyMoney Malawi wins National Energy Globe Award

We are excited to announce that our SunnyMoney Malawi initiative has won the Energy Globe National Award! The Award recognises SunnyMoney Malawi’s creative distribution model and innovation through offering the world’s most affordable solar light, the SM100, and through pioneering pay-as-you-go (PAYG) ownership schemes for affordable solar lights; breaking down the affordability barrier for families […]

Solar lighting: the affordability issue

SolarAid and Yingli Green Energy first joined forces to try and deliver the most affordable solar light to Africa in 2014. SolarAid’s feedback from the field, based on many thousands of interview interactions, was that low cost was the single most important consideration for potential buyers. There were also other important considerations, all of which […]

SolarAid’s SM100 featured on the BBC and in the Financial Times

We are very pleased to report our SM100 solar light has been featured on both the BBC website and in the Financial Times (paywall). The articles agreed that the SM100 – developed by SolarAid with Chinese solar giant Yingli, and designed by cool UK design company Inventid – presents a great way of fighting poverty in Africa and elsewhere. With the SM100, SolarAid […]

SM100 – Meets Lighting Global Quality Standards

We are very happy to announce that our little solar light, the SM100, has now been fully tested by Lighting Global and is now certified as meeting their quality standards. Lighting Global is the World Bank Group’s platform to support sustainable growth of the international off-grid solar market as a means of rapidly increasing energy access to […]

SunnyMoney shortlisted for the 2017 Responsible Business Awards

SolarAid is celebrating after being shortlisted for the UK’s longest running and most prestigious awards programme, championing responsible business in the UK and abroad. Now in their 20th year, the Awards champion the most inspiring businesses who are making a difference by taking action to build more inclusive workplaces, stronger communities and tackle our biggest environmental […]