Powering Malawian Communities Using Solar Home Products

May 11, 2023

Malawi has a low electricity access rate, with less than 15% of its population connected to the grid. Additionally, there is a significant difference in power supply between urban and rural areas, with only 7% of the rural population connected. In response, Green Impact Technology (GI-Tech) is implementing pay-as-you-go solar home systems to increase energy access throughout the country.

Green Impact is an innovative organization dedicated to promoting clean energy. They are committed to raising awareness and advocating for better access to energy, providing practical training to young people on energy technologies, promoting energy efficiency and conservation initiatives, distributing energy technologies, and developing mini-grids in Malawi. In 2019, Green Impact received a US$100K grant from USADF as part of the Power Africa Initiative to acquire and distribute solar home systems through an agent-based, pay-as-you-go business model in Lilongwe, Kasungu, and Dedza. Thanks to the grant funding, Green Impact was able to scale its operations and provide solar home systems to over 15,000 households, as well as climate-smart agriculture technologies to over 5,000 smallholder farmers.

Green Impact has successfully surpassed its sales projections by deploying nearly 3,330 solar systems across eight districts, representing a remarkable increase of 216%. In addition, their innovative installment payment model has enabled families to allocate their income towards other essential expenses, such as school fees and nutritious food, making these products more affordable and accessible.

The impact of Green Impact's home solar systems on productivity cannot be denied. The provision of light has allowed schoolchildren to study more effectively, while business owners and farmers have been able to work longer hours. Moreover, television has played a vital role in disseminating information, including updates on COVID-19 and new agricultural practices. As a result, entertainment, such as sports, has enriched community life.

Green Impact hired 22 agents from the local community to sell their products and teach customers how to use and maintain them. These agents earned commissions from their sales, which helped improve their economic well-being and that of their families. In addition, the project's focus on people significantly increased total revenue, estimated at US$169,190 (MWK 173M), benefiting over 5,600 Malawians. Overall, the project was a success.

Green Impact has been thriving with additional funding and improvements to its sales model beyond its initial funding from USADF. As a result, they have increased their product offerings and serve more districts. Recently, USADF awarded Green Impact an additional US$200K in funding to expand its existing project. The focus is on deploying solar water pumps and home systems for irrigation farming, which aims to reduce smallholder farmers' dependence on rain-fed agriculture. This project has successfully provided over 250 farmers with climate-resilient technology and reached over 3,000 off-grid households. It is an excellent step towards building the community's resilience to the effects of climate change.

Tailor using solarSolar Powered Irrigation