Easy Solar
From Expense to Access: a pay-as-you-go model lighting up West Africa
- Company
- Renewable energy
- West Africa
- 2018
- Active
The challenge
In Sierra Leone, 78% of the population lacks access to electricity — with rural access below 5%. Families often spend up to 30% of their income on low-quality, polluting energy sources like kerosene and disposable batteries. While solar products are gaining ground, high upfront costs remain a major barrier for low-income households.
The innovation
Easy Solar makes clean energy accessible through pay-as-you-go financing and a wide distribution network. Customers use mobile money to make flexible, incremental payments — eliminating the need for large upfront investments. A trusted agent network ensures personalized support, even in remote communities across Sierra Leone and Liberia.
The impact
Since 2016, Easy Solar has delivered solar access to over one million people across West Africa. The company’s affordable energy solutions have helped households and businesses cut costs, improve resilience, and avoid more than 10,000 tons of CO₂ emissions each year. With support from Acumen’s Hardest-to-Reach initiative, Easy Solar is expanding its footprint — bringing reliable power to even more of the region’s underserved communities.
