RS Group partners with SolarAid to provide lighting to 150,000 rural residents in Africa

RS Group plc launched Sept. 29 a three-year partnership with international development charity SolarAid. Together, they plan to raise $1.17 million to provide clean, safe, solar lighting to 150,000 people in rural communities across Africa without access to electricity.

RS Group reports this partnership is central to its 2030 ESG action plan, and champions a shared ambition to “make amazing happen for a brighter world.” By combining corporate donations, matched funding, RS Pro product contributions, employee fundraising, and gifts in kind, RS Group expects to help accelerate SolarAid’s mission to create thriving solar businesses that tackle poverty and climate change. To amplify their collective impact, RS Group will match donations and funds raised by its employees, further reinforcing its commitment to empowering communities.

For instance, one solar-powered light benefits every member of a household, reduces the need for kerosene, candles and torches by 90%; cuts energy costs by 95%; and enables children to study safely after sunset. It also reduces carbon emissions, and supports transitioning to renewable energy sources. This is crucial because a paraffin candle emits three times its weight in CO₂, and a kerosene lamp emits over a ton of carbon every three years.

Staff engagement at heart of partnership

RS and SolarAid report they’re closely aligned as providers of products and solutions that support the low-carbon transition with a focus on renewables. As a leader in industrial MRO services, RS's expertise will directly support SolarAid’s global and local repair programs, helping to create a circular solar economy in off-grid communities. RS employees worldwide will be encouraged to get involved through skills-based volunteering, fundraising challenges and awareness-raising activities. Planned initiatives include:

• Skills-based volunteering. RS experts will support SolarAid projects, such as improving its Repair App, which helps communities extend the life of solar lights and reduce waste through simple repairs.
• On-the-ground engagement. Opportunities to visit SolarAid-supported communities in Malawi and Zambia, as well as welcoming SolarAid representatives to RS markets for live demonstrations.
• Night Without Light. An awareness initiative, in which employees spend a night without electricity, experiencing the challenges faced by off-grid communities.
• Active for Change. A global fundraising challenge, in which employees raise money by logging physical activity in teams.
• Annual volunteering days. RS employees are entitled to two volunteering days per year, and the company aims to inspire 50% of colleagues to use this time to support their communities and the SolarAid partnership.

In addition, SolarAid’s recent, remarkable achievement in Kasakula, Malawi, underscores the partnership’s potential. As of Aug. 26, 100% of households, all local schools, and the health clinic in Kasakula gained solar access through SolarAid’s Light a Village initiative.

“We are proud to partner with SolarAid on this important mission,” adds  Andrea Barrett, chief sustainability officer at RS Group. “Access to clean, safe solar lighting is a powerful catalyst for education, safety, and opportunity. By combining the passion of our people with the innovation of our customers and suppliers, we can make amazing happen for communities that need it most. The success in Kasakula is a living proof point. Achieving 100% access in one of the world’s poorest and most remote regions shows that universal energy access is not just achievable, but scalable.”

John Keane, CEO of SolarAid, adds, “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with RS Group. From the very start, our shared purpose and alignment have been clear. Like RS Group, we strive to innovate the best solutions for our customers, so we can deliver sustainable energy access. We are incredibly excited by the huge opportunity we have together to make progress on our mission, and to bring clean, safe lighting and power to those living in the most remote and hardest to reach communities. Together, we really will make amazing happen for a brighter world.”