Solar panels are replacing diesel generators where aid workers need power most

In N'Djamena, Chad, a UN agency office that once ran on roaring diesel generators now draws its power from the sun. The UK-backed ZERO project, tested there, is cutting humanitarian agencies' electricity costs by at least 25%, and is expected to cut generator running time by between 73 and 85%. A second site is on the way, and together they are projected to save about $1 million over 10 years. The model is simple: agencies pay for the electricity they use, not for buying and maintaining equipment. Lily Beadle of the Carbon Trust put the point plainly — every pound spent on generator fuel is money that cannot be spent on healthcare, water or sanitation. The team is now seeking partners to take the model to more sites, including in Kenya.

SDG 7 · Affordable and clean energy — Mechanism: infrastructure build