Along the Thailand-Myanmar border, solar panels are doing more than lighting homes: they’re reducing violence risks, cutting costs, and giving students a chance to study safely. A glimpse of what happens when the global clean-energy transition reaches those who need it most.

I reckon that too often, we associate clean energy and renewables with a narrow goal in mind. We’re comparing power outputs, installed capacities, or tonnes of carbon removed from the atmosphere.

There’s nothing wrong with these metrics, but they overshadow all the other benefits we should be equally focused on. Things like individual liberation, education, entrepreneurship or—perhaps most importantly—creating conditions in which peace can flourish.

Giving families and communities independent ability to determine their future and conditions for individual prosperity, anywhere in the world.

“We cannot push for a peace deal or make it happen. But with clean power, we can help build the conditions peace needs to flourish.”

John Elkington and Julie Richardson made this point well in The Triple Bottom Line. They ask to look at who benefits from an intervention or project, how they participate, to really dig deep on the downstream effects.

We should be building agency, independence, safety and resilience: the conditions for free self-actualization. And that goes especially for places where corruption and violence threaten families living in poverty.

Nowhere is this more apparent than with the Karen people.

*Clean power can help build conditions for education, entrepreneurship, and peace.*

What Can Solar Do in a War Zone

Many live along the Thai-Myanmar border, scattered in camps or remote villages. They lived in this area for centuries, but for the past 70 years, they endure one of the longest running armed conflicts.

For over 70 years. That’s several generations of people growing up in camps, without basic utilities or education, and under the threat of assault.

We’re seeing these children. SolarBuddy is there, through our partners Cambodia Rural Students Trust and the Karen Women's Organization, who distribute our lights and deliver workshops.

There are thousands and thousands of students and kids who live in these conditions. Thousands and thousands of mothers who’re spending fortunes on kerosene for light, who go out to scour for firewood or means to live, only to get assaulted by armed groups.

So what can clean power do to empower these people? It offers them foundations for peace and means to earn a living, keeps kids safe and in schools, and builds some stability.

It can help create a home.

*SolarBuddy distribution along the Thai-Myanmar border.*

Clean Energy Won’t End Wars, But It Changes the Odds

We’re well aware that clean power is only a small piece of the puzzle to building peace. We cannot push for a peace deal or make it happen. But I believe that with clean power, we can help build the conditions peace needs to flourish.

Having clean power reduces some of the pressure. It helps families avoid the cost of kerosene. It reduces the need to gather firewood and face the threat of assault and sexual violence. It provides the means to maintain some stability, food security and time for building and studying.

“The technology to power entire communities already exists. We can deploy these to serve schools, health clinics, homes or even 3D printers transforming plastic waste.”

Now, we’re delivering solar lights and workshops, but we’re not stopping there. Next are full household energy systems. Clean cooking, refrigeration, charging for phones and devices. These are safe, tamper resistant and designed for maximum utility in the household.

We’re monitoring the whole units, gathering data on its use or temperature stability to store vaccines. All to aid design, help our partners and donors monitor their use and ensure it serves the families the most.

We’re calling this system FamilyBuddy. You can find more info on the unit here: You can read more here: https://lnkd.in/g3ksUUaG

FamilyBuddy is another steppingstone, designed to offer clean power in a way that’s empowering and building resilience.

There are many other programs that then support this community clean power adoption. With the help of some amazing people, we’re expanding our Social STEM classes to kids directly affected by energy poverty.

That way, they can stand next to top aerospace engineers and build their own lights. Understanding the design, effort and engineering that went into them helps the kids appreciate them better. And, hopefully, this also makes them excited for clean power.

Repurposed Panels, Micro-Grids, and the Next Leap

If the conditions allow, the next step should be a local mini-grid. The technology to power entire communities already exists. We can deploy these to serve schools, health clinics, homes or even 3D printers transforming plastic waste.

These systems help build further steadiness where there’s been none for a long time.

SolarBuddy is not there yet to offer these full community mini-grids. But with Luca Power, we’re piloting an approach to re-use old but still usable solar panels from Australian homes; repurposing them for these mini grids.

“This is the next step on the students’ journey to become clean power innovators for their own community”

There’s some cost involved, but that can be easily paid off by selling power to the community at a reduced rate. When the unit’s paid off, a portion of the profit will go to a foundation that sends talented girls from the community to study STEM at a university.

This is the next step on the students’ journey to become clean power innovators for their own community.

Other programs help local micro-entrepreneurs make a living in the clean power transition.

The K.L.I.C.K. (Kerosene Lantern In-situ Conversion Kit) is an initiative that provides a simple way to convert kerosene lanterns into solar-powered lights. This conversion is done by local women who get technical training and parts supply.

*Kerosene lamp converted into solar-powered light.*

They learn how to convert the lights and maintain them. Replacing the odd part here and there and teaching others how to use solar. On the back of this, local women can create micro-enterprises and support their families.

Another small step on the way to building safe and resilient communities.

The Global Energy Shift Is Already Underway

A few months ago, Bill McKibben made an argument in The New Yorker, pointing out that despite policy setbacks, clean power is having a moment. Solar and wind adoption is hitting record highs, and in 2025, clean power is overtaking fossil fuels in global electricity generation.

The article points to fast adoption of solar in rural Asia thanks to convenience and falling costs. There is an entire ecosystem of small businesses, microfinance projects and NGOs that help families adopt solar. If they can afford it, this is a clear best option.

As the chairman of the Pakistan Solar Association Waqas Moosa put it, it’s not unusual to see a modest solar set-up, with say a 3-kilowatt inverter with four or five panels, given as part of a dowry to new brides.

But not everyone is that lucky. Our job now is to ensure those fleeing conflict and living in energy poverty aren’t left out of this shift. That’s where I see the biggest ROI, thanks to all the other benefits clean energy unlocks.

— Simon

Do you want to talk more? Reach out to schedule a meeting or book a keynote.

Cover image: Steve Evans / Wikimedia Foundation / CC BY 2.0

We Can’t Wait for Peace to Build Infrastructure. We Need Infrastructure to Make Peace Possible.

What Can Solar Do in a War Zone

Clean Energy Won’t End Wars, But It Changes the Odds

Repurposed Panels, Micro-Grids, and the Next Leap

The Global Energy Shift Is Already Underway

Do you want to talk more? Reach out to schedule a meeting or book a keynote.

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