SolarAid

{{Infobox organization

| name = SolarAid

| formation = 2006

| logo = File:SolarAid Logo.png

| type = International Development charity

| founder = Jeremy Leggett

| location = London, UK

| origins =

| key_people =

| area_served = Africa

| product = Solar lamps, lanterns and home-systems

| focus = Solar market catalysation

| method =

| revenue =

| endowment =

| website = {{URL|https://solar-aid.org/}}

| num_employees = 100+

| owner =

}}

SolarAid is an international development charity which is working to create a sustainable market for solar lights in Africa. In line with the Sustainable Development Goal 7: "Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all", the organisation's aim is to reduce global poverty and climate change through providing access to solar lights for rural communities. SolarAid wholly owns the social enterprise, SunnyMoney,{{Cite web|url=http://www.sunnymoney.org/|title=Home {{!}} SunnyMoney - Life is Getting Brighter|website=www.sunnymoney.org|access-date=2019-06-05}} the largest seller of solar lights in Africa.{{Cite web|url=https://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/small-charity-beats-oil-giant-becomes-largest-seller-solar-lights-africa.html|title=Small Charity Beats Oil Giant, Becomes Largest Seller of Solar Lights in Africa|website=TreeHugger|language=en|access-date=2019-06-05}} SolarAid was founded by Solarcentury, a solar energy company based in the UK.

Aims and focus

SolarAid aims to light up every home, school and clinic in Africa by 2030, using safe, clean, solar power. The charity's social enterprise, SunnyMoney, operates in Zambia and Malawi. SolarAid also work through partners in Uganda and Senegal in West Africa.{{Cite web|url=https://www.energy4impact.org/news/ashden-awards-winner-solaraid-makes-solar-lights-available-rural-senegal|title=Ashden Awards winner SolarAid makes solar lights available in rural Senegal|website=Energy For Impact|language=en|access-date=2019-06-05}}

Awards

SolarAid is the recipient of a 2013 Google Global Impact Award,{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.org/global-giving/global-impact-awards/solaraid/|title=Google Dot Org|website=www.google.org|access-date=2019-06-05}} a 2013 Guardian Sustainable Business Award.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/solaraid-brighter-future-african-communities|title=SolarAid: providing a brighter future for African villages|last=Thorpe|first=Lorna|date=2013-05-16|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-06-05|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} and the 2013 Ashden Gold Award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ashden.org/winners/solaraid|title=SolarAid {{!}} Ashden Award Winner 2013|date=2017-05-30|website=Ashden|language=en|access-date=2019-06-05}}