When hardware meets heart: Reimagining farmland for a dual-purpose future
A Q&A with Acumen Fellow Delia Rodríguez Lucas.
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As the demand for renewable energy grows, solar farms are expanding rapidly, often onto the flat, sun-rich terrain that also happens to be our most fertile agricultural land. While solar power is essential to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, its rise is putting pressure on food systems and rural livelihoods. We need solutions that don’t force us to choose between growing crops and generating clean energy.
One such solution comes from Delia Rodríguez Lucas, a 2020 Acumen Spain Fellow and Acumen Angels recipient. Delia is the Founder and CEO of Eki Labs, a company pioneering vertical bifacial solar panels that integrate directly into farmland, generating clean electricity while leaving room for crops to thrive. With roots in a fifth-generation Spanish farming family and a career in engineering and sustainability, Delia is building a future where clean energy and agriculture no longer compete for land but coexist.
In this conversation, she shares how her background shaped her mission, the highs and lows of building a social enterprise that serves both people and planet, and why she believes action is the best antidote to climate anxiety.
Meet Delia and watch highlights from the interview here:
Q: What personal experiences or values led you to become a social entrepreneur in your field? How have those memories or moments shaped your mission?
Delia: Becoming a social entrepreneur is something I think you always carry in your heart, but there are specific moments when you realize it’s time to act. In my case, I come from a family that has farmed in Spain for over five generations. I’ve seen up close how farmers struggle and how climate change is impacting our lands. That experience is deeply personal to me.
At the same time, I’m an engineer by training and have always been drawn to building things — hardware, systems, solutions. After working in strategy, finance, and later in corporate sustainability, I joined the Acumen Fellowship and met incredible Fellows who inspired me. That experience pushed me to bring together my professional background in engineering, finance, and sustainability with my personal connection to agriculture. Eki Labs was born from that intersection where I saw the potential to merge two worlds and make a meaningful difference.
Q: What was the hardest moment you faced in the early years of building Eki Labs? How did this affect you, emotionally and personally, to continue this drive forward?
Delia: Engineering gave me the perfect foundation to work in clean energy, especially when you’re building hardware. It gave me the confidence that I could create something real. I often say I sell clean and social impact electrons. And that starts with knowing how to build.
One of the earliest challenges was simply studying engineering itself. You constantly face problems you know nothing about, and then five months later, you’re expected to solve them. That taught me that even the most complex issues can be broken down and tackled. That mindset has helped me as an entrepreneur.
Starting my company two years ago was also incredibly hard. Any founder will tell you the emotional highs and lows are intense. For me, some of the lowest points came from the uncertainty of whether the technology would actually work. With hardware, there’s no room for pretending. Either it produces 10% more energy, or it doesn’t. Either you occupy less space and leave room for crops, or you don’t. I once had to wait an entire year just to see if our system would support healthy crop growth and generate the promised energy. I was fortunate to have the support of Harvard and MIT — a huge privilege that gave me access to resources and funding throughout that uncertainty. But it was the process of facing complexity head-on, of learning and pivoting, that helped me push through the toughest moments.
Q: Most investors still prioritize financial returns over environmental impact. On top of selling your product, service, or business, how do you stay true to your vision while managing the financial pressures coming from investors?
Delia: I’m fortunate in that my solution is both climate-positive and financially sound. Of course, the core of what we do is about supporting the energy transition and rural communities, but even if someone doesn’t care about climate change, the value is still there. We generate clean electricity that’s cheaper, and we produce more of it, including during morning and evening hours when electricity prices are typically higher. That gives us solid unit economics.
Because of that, I can walk into investor meetings — even with people who are only focused on financial returns — and make a strong case. Our model has both impact and profitability, and that balance helps me stay true to my vision. It gives me a seat at the table in more traditional investment spaces, which is critical if we want to scale solutions that actually make a difference. After all, there’s nothing against cheaper electricity.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who feels overwhelmed by the state of the planet today but wants to make a difference?
Delia: The antidote to overwhelm is action. I really believe that stress often comes from thinking a lot about a problem but not doing anything about it. The moment you take a step, even a small one, that feeling starts to ease.
My advice is to pause and reflect: What specifically is making you feel uneasy? What part of the issue feels personal to you? Once you’ve named that, think about how you can act from where you are. It could be in your job, asking your boss about your company’s energy contract, or in your personal life, like finding a local producer for something you use often, like olive oil.
It doesn’t have to be huge. Start with what matters to you and take one real step forward.
Q: What’s one thing everyone can do in their daily lives to contribute to a more sustainable future?
Delia: We often hear about recycling or buying local, and of course those things matter. But I think we overlook the power we have to create change through our day-to-day work.
When I worked at Procter & Gamble, and later at Ashoka, I realized that sometimes the biggest impact comes from small changes within existing systems. For example, just asking, “What kind of energy are we using?” can start a conversation that leads to real shifts. When you’re part of an organization with established operations, customers, and partners, those little questions can create long-term ripple effects.
So my advice is: Look at your own role and ask, “What’s one thing I can improve that others outside this organization wouldn’t be able to?” Start there. It’s easier and more powerful than you think.
Q: If you could encourage everyone to take one action toward a healthier planet, what would it be?
Delia: Since I work in energy, I’d say check your electricity bill. Most people don’t, but it’s one of the easiest ways to make a meaningful change. First, see what you’re paying. You might realize you’re spending more than you should. Then, check the energy mix. Your bill usually shows what percentage comes from clean versus non-renewable sources.
If your rate is high and the energy isn’t clean, look into switching providers if that option is available in your country. In many places, it’s surprisingly easy; just a few clicks or a phone call. You’ll likely save money and contribute to the energy transition, all from your own home.
Q: When do you feel most connected to the Earth?
Delia: There’s a story that really synthesizes this for me. My grandfather passed away 20 years ago. Before he died, while in the hospital, he asked to leave just once more to take the tractor out to the land and say goodbye to the sunflowers.
That moment has never left me. Now, when I return to these lands in Zamora, surrounded by those same sunflowers, I feel deeply connected — not just to nature, but to my roots, to my family’s history, and to the impact I hope to have.
It’s a moment of peace, of continuity. I think about those who came before me and those who will come after, and I remember why I do this work.
Q: Our next question is a word game. I say a word, and you say the first word that comes to mind.
Word: Innovation
Response: Impact
Word: Failure
Response: Normal
Word: Success
Response: Scary
Word: Community
Response: Fundamental
Word: Entrepreneurship
Response: Everyone
Q: Do you have anything else you’d like to share?
Delia: I just want to say how grateful I am for Acumen and this entire community. The inspiration I’ve found here, and the way Acumen continues to champion energy and agriculture, means a lot to me. Those two sectors are so close to my heart. It’s a real privilege to be part of this network.