Yesterday the Nobel Prize in Physics for the invention of ‘greatest benefit to mankind’ was awarded to Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura for the blue light-emitting diode (LED). Improvements in LED technology have made small solar lights affordable to some of the world’s poorest people living without electricity. “Nobel recognition of the importance […]
We have just found out we are one of five finalists in the Non-Profit Organisation category for the Zayed Future Energy Prize 2015. SolarAid was short-listed from a record 1100 entries from 84 countries as one of the finalists demonstrating “outstanding impact, innovation, leadership, and long-term vision”. Marie-Jose Nadaeu, Chair of the World Energy Council and […]
While the first Millennium Development Goal – to cut the 1990 poverty rate by half by 2015 has been achieved, 1.2 billion people still live below the poverty line of $1.25 a day. Many of these people we speak to everyday. Many of these people are our customers. Data analysed by SolarAid’s Director of Research & Impact shows […]
A recent debate has been rumbling over the benefits of solar lamps versus solar home systems for off-grid communities. Many studies outline the importance of solar lighting to rural households, with World Bank surveys showing many Africans consider better lighting as the most important household improvement. But some practitioners suggest that small-scale, portable solar solutions can […]
Our social enterprise SunnyMoney is the largest distributor of solar lights in Africa, focussing solely on pico solar products. A pico-solar light is a compact portable device that uses a photovoltaic panel to produce up to 10 watts of power. Combined with advanced batteries and LED bulbs they are able to produce hours of bright […]
We’re excited to announce some amazing news about the impact of your donation. In 2013 every £5 donated helped us get one solar light into the hands of a family in Africa. This year that cost has fallen to just £3 – meaning that all donations to SolarAid will have nearly twice the impact. We help create opportunities for rural families to […]
As we make preperations to take our solar enterprise in to Uganda, SunnyMoney Global Development Director John Keane contemplates how much things have changed over the last decade. Or not changed as the case may be. If you want help provide safe clean light to rural families click this link to donate today. Read John’s […]
In September 2013 the Kenyan government introduced a 16% VAT on imported goods to the country, including solar products. As a tax paid by the customer, this pushed up the cost of SunnyMoney solar lights – making them less affordable to low-income Kenyan households. This week the SunnyMoney team in Kenya are celebrating the government’s […]
Exciting news – we’ve now got our final sales figures from our small-scale Solar Schools Campaign in Senegal. You may recall our last Senegal update in which we outlined our plans to test the effectiveness of our Light Library Projects in creating demand for solar lights. Well, the Light Library Project has proven a really effective model […]
Keith Neal is a long-time supporter of SolarAid and has seen first hand the ability of solar lights to transform communities. Given the time and dedication he puts in to helping us spread solar throughout Africa it’s a wonder that he found the time to write a blog about his latest experiences. Thanks for the […]