Unlocking solar energy to power farms and businesses in Africa

Our renewed partnership with the Access to Energy Institute (A2EI) will help people on the African continent to power their livelihoods and earn a decent income through solar energy.

About 80% of households in rural Africa still live without access to electricity. In recent years, more people have been able to buy small solar home systems. But solar systems large enough to power computers, fridges and agricultural equipment—such as water pumps and mills—are still not readily available. These appliances could help farmers and business owners become more productive, increase their incomes and make sure people in their communities have enough to eat.

Sharing research and knowledge

While there are solar-powered solutions on the market in Africa, it’s not always clear which are most appropriate and how they can be scaled up. Current solar systems and appliances in the market are still too expensive for end-users and there’s a lack of established distribution channels. They are often built for consumptive use rather than productive use that can improve livelihoods, education and healthcare for the communities using it. Enterprises in the solar off-grid sector tend to develop smaller systems that need less finance and costly research and development. Any research private enterprises conduct is carefully shielded from competitors.

Our partnership with A2EI aims to bridge that gap and make data available to everyone in the sector. As a not-for-profit institute with a focus on collaboration, A2EI works without the constraints of profit-orientation and competition. This allows them to gather large-scale data on solar appliances and build up an open-source knowledge platform.

Solar Killed the Generator Star

A2EI works on various different projects to support the sustainable energy sector –  through the Solar Killed the Generator Star project in Nigeria, A2EI aims to replace small-scale fuel generators with solar generators. There currently more than 20 million generators in the country, emitting more than 50 million tons of CO2 per year.

A2EI teams in Nigeria, Tanzania and Germany have gathered extensive data and engineered a robust and affordable solar generator large enough to power businesses and replace diesel generators. Certified technicians and local distributors partnering with A2EI are distributing, installing and maintaining these generators.

Smart meters help decision-making

In a second project, A2EI focuses agricultural machines. It conducts open-source research on and develops new solar-powered agricultural appliances. A third project concentrates on designing and installing remotely monitored meters and smart sensors to gather large-scale data. This enables the renewable energy sector to make informed decisions and develop affordable, sustainable and reliable solar solutions.

“A2EI is becoming the ‘go-to’ institute for the solar sector to bring open-source innovative, affordable and scalable solar solutions to the market,” says Jolanda van Ginkel, programme manager (renewable energy) at the IKEA Foundation. “We are supporting their efforts because we want to enable small business owners and smallholder farmers in Africa to improve their income and afford a better life, while reducing and avoiding greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.”

Partner

Access to Energy Institute
https://a2ei.org/

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  • The IKEA Foundation supports @goglassociation to strengthen and develop the global industry around Productive Use of Renewable Energy (#PURE). Their #PuttingSolar2Work series highlights the benefits that renewable energy can bring to people like Doreen Njoroge. 

Doreen is a mother of three from rural Kenya. In 2022, she adopted an Agsol solar-powered micro-mill, which has not only reduced costs and saved time but also provided her community with cleaner flour. Her story illustrates the potential of #OffGridSolar technology to foster opportunities and resilience. 🌽 🌍

By #PuttingSolar2Work, smallholder farmers aren't just enhancing their businesses but also becoming agents of climate action and economic growth.

🔗 Visit our link in bio to learn more. 

*Image credit to Agsol/GOGLA.

#IKEAFoundation #GOGLA #RenewableEnergy
  • We’re partnering with @thecirculateinitiative to support the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in Kenya and India. This collaboration will help improve the livelihoods of waste workers and increase the responsible sourcing of recycled plastics.

Through training and skills development, the initiative aims to:

✅ Support 500+ waste enterprises.
✅ Generate 100,000 tons of responsibly sourced recycled plastic.
✅ Improve the livelihoods of 50,000 informal waste sector workers and waste pickers by 2026.

By working with global and local partners, we are strengthening plastic recycling supply chains to be fair, just, and inclusive—helping people and protecting the planet.

Head to our link in bio to read more.

#IKEAFoundation #TheCirculateInitiative
  • We’re pleased to share the Climate Governance Initiative 2024 Annual Report. 🌍 🙌

The IKEA Foundation proudly supports Climate Governance Initiative because we believe effective climate leadership within business is vital to transition towards a sustainable and inclusive future.
 
Over the past five years, Climate Governance Initiative has grown into a powerful global movement, empowering over 100,000 board directors across 33 Chapters worldwide to drive bold climate action. 
 
"Climate Governance Initiative has built the foundation of a truly global and influential movement, and this Annual Report portrays a vigorous movement, ever-growing in strength and purpose." - Julie Baddeley, Chair of the Governing Board, Climate Governance Initiative
 
🔗 Head to our link in bio to read the report in full. 
 
#IKEAFoundation #ClimateGovernanceInitiative
The IKEA Foundation supports @goglassociation to strengthen and develop the global industry around Productive Use of Renewable Energy (#PURE). Their #PuttingSolar2Work series highlights the benefits that renewable energy can bring to people like Doreen Njoroge. 

Doreen is a mother of three from rural Kenya. In 2022, she adopted an Agsol solar-powered micro-mill, which has not only reduced costs and saved time but also provided her community with cleaner flour. Her story illustrates the potential of #OffGridSolar technology to foster opportunities and resilience. 🌽 🌍

By #PuttingSolar2Work, smallholder farmers aren't just enhancing their businesses but also becoming agents of climate action and economic growth.

🔗 Visit our link in bio to learn more. 

*Image credit to Agsol/GOGLA.

#IKEAFoundation #GOGLA #RenewableEnergy
The IKEA Foundation supports @goglassociation to strengthen and develop the global industry around Productive Use of Renewable Energy (#PURE). Their #PuttingSolar2Work series highlights the benefits that renewable energy can bring to people like Doreen Njoroge. Doreen is a mother of three from rural Kenya. In 2022, she adopted an Agsol solar-powered micro-mill, which has not only reduced costs and saved time but also provided her community with cleaner flour. Her story illustrates the potential of #OffGridSolar technology to foster opportunities and resilience. 🌽 🌍 By #PuttingSolar2Work, smallholder farmers aren't just enhancing their businesses but also becoming agents of climate action and economic growth. 🔗 Visit our link in bio to learn more. *Image credit to Agsol/GOGLA. #IKEAFoundation #GOGLA #RenewableEnergy
1 month ago
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We’re partnering with @thecirculateinitiative to support the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in Kenya and India. This collaboration will help improve the livelihoods of waste workers and increase the responsible sourcing of recycled plastics.

Through training and skills development, the initiative aims to:

✅ Support 500+ waste enterprises.
✅ Generate 100,000 tons of responsibly sourced recycled plastic.
✅ Improve the livelihoods of 50,000 informal waste sector workers and waste pickers by 2026.

By working with global and local partners, we are strengthening plastic recycling supply chains to be fair, just, and inclusive—helping people and protecting the planet.

Head to our link in bio to read more.

#IKEAFoundation #TheCirculateInitiative
We’re partnering with @thecirculateinitiative to support the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in Kenya and India. This collaboration will help improve the livelihoods of waste workers and increase the responsible sourcing of recycled plastics. Through training and skills development, the initiative aims to: ✅ Support 500+ waste enterprises. ✅ Generate 100,000 tons of responsibly sourced recycled plastic. ✅ Improve the livelihoods of 50,000 informal waste sector workers and waste pickers by 2026. By working with global and local partners, we are strengthening plastic recycling supply chains to be fair, just, and inclusive—helping people and protecting the planet. Head to our link in bio to read more. #IKEAFoundation #TheCirculateInitiative
2 months ago
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2/3
We’re pleased to share the Climate Governance Initiative 2024 Annual Report. 🌍 🙌

The IKEA Foundation proudly supports Climate Governance Initiative because we believe effective climate leadership within business is vital to transition towards a sustainable and inclusive future.
 
Over the past five years, Climate Governance Initiative has grown into a powerful global movement, empowering over 100,000 board directors across 33 Chapters worldwide to drive bold climate action. 
 
"Climate Governance Initiative has built the foundation of a truly global and influential movement, and this Annual Report portrays a vigorous movement, ever-growing in strength and purpose." - Julie Baddeley, Chair of the Governing Board, Climate Governance Initiative
 
🔗 Head to our link in bio to read the report in full. 
 
#IKEAFoundation #ClimateGovernanceInitiative
We’re pleased to share the Climate Governance Initiative 2024 Annual Report. 🌍 🙌

The IKEA Foundation proudly supports Climate Governance Initiative because we believe effective climate leadership within business is vital to transition towards a sustainable and inclusive future.
 
Over the past five years, Climate Governance Initiative has grown into a powerful global movement, empowering over 100,000 board directors across 33 Chapters worldwide to drive bold climate action. 
 
"Climate Governance Initiative has built the foundation of a truly global and influential movement, and this Annual Report portrays a vigorous movement, ever-growing in strength and purpose." - Julie Baddeley, Chair of the Governing Board, Climate Governance Initiative
 
🔗 Head to our link in bio to read the report in full. 
 
#IKEAFoundation #ClimateGovernanceInitiative
We’re pleased to share the Climate Governance Initiative 2024 Annual Report. 🌍 🙌

The IKEA Foundation proudly supports Climate Governance Initiative because we believe effective climate leadership within business is vital to transition towards a sustainable and inclusive future.
 
Over the past five years, Climate Governance Initiative has grown into a powerful global movement, empowering over 100,000 board directors across 33 Chapters worldwide to drive bold climate action. 
 
"Climate Governance Initiative has built the foundation of a truly global and influential movement, and this Annual Report portrays a vigorous movement, ever-growing in strength and purpose." - Julie Baddeley, Chair of the Governing Board, Climate Governance Initiative
 
🔗 Head to our link in bio to read the report in full. 
 
#IKEAFoundation #ClimateGovernanceInitiative
We’re pleased to share the Climate Governance Initiative 2024 Annual Report. 🌍 🙌 The IKEA Foundation proudly supports Climate Governance Initiative because we believe effective climate leadership within business is vital to transition towards a sustainable and inclusive future. Over the past five years, Climate Governance Initiative has grown into a powerful global movement, empowering over 100,000 board directors across 33 Chapters worldwide to drive bold climate action. "Climate Governance Initiative has built the foundation of a truly global and influential movement, and this Annual Report portrays a vigorous movement, ever-growing in strength and purpose." - Julie Baddeley, Chair of the Governing Board, Climate Governance Initiative 🔗 Head to our link in bio to read the report in full. #IKEAFoundation #ClimateGovernanceInitiative
3 months ago
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