Thanks to EKOenergy consumers, EKOenergy’s Climate Fund supports community-driven initiatives that transform lives through renewable energy. This year, we received many applications for solar-powered pump systems, likely in response to the increasing extreme weather conditions caused by climate change. Over the past 10 years, EKOenergy has funded 120 community projects with nearly €4 million and is rapidly expanding.
Bridging the gap in global renewable energy access
EKOenergy’s Climate Fund, supported by a minimum contribution of €0.10 per MWh from all EKOenergy users, aims to extend the benefits of the renewable energy transition to communities lacking the financial resources to pursue their own initiatives. We ensure that every cent contributed to EKOenergy’s Climate Fund goes to non-profit organisations that coordinate projects in collaboration with local partners and communities.
We have recently completed another selection process and will fund 21 short-term renewable energy projects through our Climate Fund’s open call for small grants in 2024. These projects will take place across 17 different low- and middle-income countries, including Malaysia, Cambodia, Cameroon, and India, totaling €956,529.
Driving change through renewable energy
EKOenergy does not implement its own projects; we fund non-profit organisations of all sizes that support local communities in realising their initiatives. These communities often bear the brunt of the climate crisis and environmental change, despite having contributed the least to these issues.
The lack of clean and affordable energy poses a significant barrier to basic services. Many farmers struggle with drought conditions, relying on heavy chemicals and limited crop diversity for improved yields. Inadequate lighting creates safety concerns in healthcare facilities and limits valuable hours for income generation. Current energy sources like kerosene and wood-based materials also pose severe health and environmental risks.
Wide-ranging projects from solar-irrigation systems to community forest monitoring
Every community has different needs, so the project applications we receive request funding for a wide variety of initiatives. This year, however, we received many applications focused on solar-powered pump systems. These systems provide communities with clean drinking water and enable irrigation for agriculture. This trend can be seen as a response to the increased extreme weather conditions brought about by climate change as part of larger environmental changes and the need to adapt to them.
For example, in West Bengal, India, the Surul Centre for Services in Rural Area (CSRA) is helping local farmers install solar-powered pump systems. These systems allow farmers to irrigate their crops even during dry seasons and provide the entire community with clean drinking water. Additionally, villagers will receive training to incorporate high-value crops into their crop rotation. In the Fako region of Cameroon, a local non-profit ISUDEV is installing solar-powered boreholes with pumps to provide clean drinking water for four schools.
Not all projects are related to water, however. In the Amazon Basin of Peru, Amazon Watch is partnering with the local FECONAU organisation to provide sustainable electricity to Indigenous communities. This project includes radio systems and satellite internet powered by solar microgrids, enabling territorial monitoring and allowing communities to report incursions and attract media and policymaker attention. In Malaysia, Green Empowerment and TONIBUNG’s solar microgrid project with the indigenous Suluk people in Pitas Laut fishing village will support local populations’ self-reliance and increase household productivity and income. Until now, due to a lack of electricity for cold storage, fishing households have had to pay a premium for ice and often sell their fish at low prices to avoid spoilage.
Other projects funded thanks to users of EKOenergy
Apart from the 21 newly selected projects, we will grant 80,000€ to the Siemenpuu Foundation as part of our multi-annual agreement to support grassroots renewable energy projects in Mali and Myanmar and we are preparing the selection of several new long-term projects in December 2024.
Thanks to a steadily growing number of EKOenergy users, we can fund more renewable energy projects each year. None of these projects would have been possible without commitment of consumers of all sizes to EKOenergy. You can find an overview of all finished and ongoing projects on the map below.
Follow us on Linkedin, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube or X for regular updates about the progress of the ongoing projects.
Published: 15 June 2024
