Solar for All
Changing the energy landscape in developing countries

Solar for All Contest - More Information

Presently 1.6 billion people worldwide, mostly in developing countries, live without access to energy. Modern energy fulfils basic needs, but is also a necessary motor for socio-economic development. Electricity advances developmental factors such as small business development, access to appliances (e.g., refrigeration), extended operation and working hours, access to communications, more security, enhanced education levels and rural development. Energy can improve the life of millions

“Solar for All” is a global initiative that wants to take a big step ahead in making solar energy affordable to the 1.6 billion people without access to electricity. More than single social entrepreneurs have to be supported to accomplish a systemic change; therefore the general approach comprises the entire solar PV value chain and related financial services.

The Protagonists

The initiators of Solar for All, Ashoka, and Canopus Foundation, are leading a consortium of experts that have joined forces including the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy (ISE), Avina Stiftung, Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation, elea Foundation, Lemelson Foundation and Woodcock Foundation. These organisations are experts in advancing change through social entrepreneurship, solar technology, and venture philanthropy and have developed a three-tiered strategy to reach Solar for All's goals.

Changing the energy landscape

The first tier is a design contest for manufacturers and PV system integrators for the “perfectly” designed and adapted solar PV system for rural electrification. This will surface potential investment opportunities and shall give the industry a gentle push towards taking the off-grid market potential for PV more seriously.

The second tier is the development of a tailor-made investment fund, supporting the entire solar ecosystem to make solar energy systems and low energy appliances available and affordable to lower income communities. The fund shall support all aspects of the solar food chain: from locking into raw material supply to the production of wafers, PV cells, solar panels, and other components of the solar system. The distribution as well as design, production and distribution of low energy appliances will also be supported. Microfinance products to support end users and financing of scale-up of social enterprise distributors will also be given strong consideration.

The third tier is the development of a smart strategy to aggregate the purchasing power of off-grid PV distributors and to raise their voice within the solar industry, governments and international development institutions. Part of that is a platform for efficient collaboration of the stakeholders for the aggregation of demand.

Until today the solar PV industry has focused mainly on the on-grid market, whereas the off-grid sector is a niche market accounting only for 3% of the world market. “Solar for All” aims to make tangible impact on the PV industry, the financial sector and rural development fully recognizing the important social and economic value proposition of clean decentralized energy for our world's villages.