Traditional Authority Kasakula – one of the poorest and most underserved communities in one of Africa’s least electrified nations, will today, 26th August 2025, become the first community in Malawi to achieve 100% access to solar power through a ground-breaking Energy-as-a-Service model. 8,813 homes, 12 schools, and the one health clinic – will gain access to Tier 1 electricity, as defined by the World Bank’s Multi-Tier Framework. Across Malawi, 84% of the population still live without access to electricity
With no connection to the national grid, 97% of residents living in extreme poverty, and 76% without education beyond primary level, families have relied on kerosene lamps or open flames for light. Many people report house fires, respiratory issues, and barriers to education and productivity as a result.
SolarAid – an international non-profit – chose Kasakula to pilot its model in 2021 to better understand the challenges of achieving universal energy access in one of the world’s poorest regions. Co-developed with the local community, they deliberately selected one of Malawi’s most remote and low-income communities to maximise learnings. The infrastructure now enables solar home systems to be installed in up to 1,000 households per week – with full connectivity reached on August 26th. Nearly 100 local jobs have been created to support installation and maintenance.
“The clock is ticking, and current solutions will not reach the hardest-to-reach in time for the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals. This model shows that universal energy access is possible, and achievable in a matter of years, even in one of the world’s most remote and impoverished communities,” says John Keane, SolarAid CEO.
The Energy-as-a-Service model removes financial and ownership-related barriers to access by allowing customers to pay only for the energy they use, at a price comparable to candles. SolarAid handles installation, maintenance, and servicing, using real-time usage and revenue data to ensure continued access while creating green jobs within the community.
Brino Kambanizithe, whose household received a system in 2023, said:
“I believe our future will be transformed for the better. With light, we can extend our working hours, both on farm produce and with other opportunities. It opens up new possibilities for growth and prosperity. My child will grow up in a house that has lights. He will have more time to read once he starts going to school.”
Eva Roig, Senior Communications Manager at GOGLA (the Global Association for the Off-grid solar energy industry) said, “SolarAid continues to test out innovative solutions to reach the last mile: their work in Kasakula demonstrates that 100% electricity access is achievable even in the poorest communities. The energy-as-a-service model shows potential to be a gamechanger for low-income communities to access life-changing clean energy powering economic transformation.”
This achievement aligns directly with the World Bank’s Mission 300, an ambitious global goal to connect 300 million people across Africa to electricity by 2030. The model is supported by the Rural Energy Access Lab (REAL).