S01E6: Lighting Up Communities in the Global Energy Access Gap
Moira Hanes never planned to lead a global nonprofit. But what started as a one-off project bringing solar lights to Zambian villages has grown into more than 100 renewable energy systems across 10 countries.
In this final episode of Season One of The OpenSolar Podcast, Birchy speaks with Moira about her journey from trade policy to energy justice and how Empowered by Light is transforming lives in places where electricity was once unimaginable.
Also available to stream on Apple and Spotify.
From trade deals to energy justice
Before Empowered by Light, Moira spent a decade navigating international trade policy. But growing up with parents who believed in giving back left a mark. “It was in my DNA,” she says.
What began as a small project in Zambia quickly grew. “We thought we’d do one or two installations,” Moira recalls. “But once you see the need, you can’t walk away.”
Today, Empowered by Light’s microgrids power schools, ranger stations, and community hubs across Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Building local capacity, sparking lasting change
Every system is designed and installed by local solar companies — a deliberate strategy to grow skills and create sustainable change.
“Some of our early partners were tiny operations with one or two people,” Moira says. “Now they’re thriving businesses.”
In Zambia, one partner used their experience to secure funding for more than 150 additional microgrids. “It’s not just about electricity,” Moira adds. “It’s about dignity, opportunity and resilience.
Life without electricity and what happens when it arrives
For the 800 million people worldwide living without power, energy poverty shapes every part of daily life. Students study by candlelight or under toxic diesel fumes. Women walk for hours to fetch water, losing time for work and family. Clinics go without refrigeration for medicines. It’s more than inconvenience — it’s a barrier to education, health and opportunity.
At Sioma High School in rural Zambia, students once endured long nights with failing generators and polluted air. After the school switched to solar, exam scores improved, morale lifted, and the government stepped in to upgrade facilities.
“Having solar made the students proud of their school for the first time,” Moira says.
In Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp, a solar-powered recording studio gives young people a voice. “They call it Hope Studio,” she says. “They thought the world had forgotten them. Now they’re sharing music and podcasts globally.”
A smarter path to global energy access
Moira believes distributed solar and storage are the fastest, smartest solutions for closing the global energy access gap.
“Why run power lines across entire countries when microgrids can deliver clean energy now?” she asks. “The sunlight is there. What’s needed is capital and commitment.”
Each project proves that leapfrogging fossil fuels isn’t just possible — it’s already happening.
How to support Empowered by Light
For those looking to help, there are many ways to get involved. Subscribe to Empowered by Light’s newsletter, share their work, or connect them with corporate partners. Hardware donations and financial contributions directly fund new systems.
“Every system we deploy changes lives,” Moira says.
As Birchy puts it: “Empowered by Light shows how solar transforms communities. Together, we can help light up the world.”
Click here to read more about OpenSolar’s 1% commitment in partnership with Empowered by Light.