One of Europe’s leading energy company specialising in building integrated solar technology is from the United Kingdom: In April Solarcentury was awarded ‘Low Carbon Pioneer’ by CNBC European Business Magazine, whose annual ranking aims to highlight the Top 100 European companies, who have demonstrated a courageous and innovative stance on climate change or developed a future, low carbon solution in the form of clean technology or renewable energy.

But Solarcentury is not only Britain’s largest solar company, it is also a driving force in corporate social responsibility, linking its core business activity of building integrated photovoltaic systems with addressing global social problems like poverty and climate change.

Solarcentury was set up by Jeremy Legget, a leading figure in putting climate issues forward and winner of multiple awards for innovation and sustainability, as a business with the vision of contributing to solve the problem of climate change through solar energy. But solar energy is not only a way to mitigate climate change, it is also a way to contribute to poverty alleviation. Over two billion of the world’s population have no access to electricity, a major cause of poverty in many rural areas of Africa, for example. The founders of Solarcentury therefore committed themselves to donate 5% of the company’s net profit to a charity that helps poor communities in the developing world to access solar power.

In was in 2006 when Solaraid was created as an independent charity, bridging the gap between the private and voluntary sector. Since then, it is not only through funding that Solarcentury is helping the organization, more importantly it is the staff volunteers that bring the needed professionalism and expert knowledge to the organization.

The organization’s approach is pioneering: Microsolar technology like solar lanterns or solar chargers for radios or mobile phones help fulfilling rural energy needs in Africa, leading to an income increase for the poor because they do not need to spend money on kerosene or batteries, which can be between 10-20% of an average household’s income. Innovative is also the fact the those solar products are not only given away as a donation by the organization: Instead, Solaraid uses an entrepreneurial approach, training entrepreneurs to convert kerosene lamps into solar lanterns using light emitting diodes and build chargers from local materials and imported solar glass. Through its macro-solar projects that involve installing larger 300 watt solar systems Solaraid helps schools, hospitals or community centres, increasing the quality of life for many in the rural areas.

What can we learn from the story of Solarcentury and Solaraid? – It is corporate social responsibility and corporate philanthropy as well as the commitment of individuals that offer unique opportunities to solve some of the world’s pressing problems.

For more information see
[1] www.solarcentury.com/
[2] solar-aid.org/

Photo: solar charger (Andy Bodycombe/SolarAid)