Changing Lives with Solar Microgrids

EarthSpark International has deployed a 93 kW solar microgrid in Les Anglais, Haiti, providing 24-hour clean power to approximately 2,000 people. The project demonstrates that microgrids can bridge the gap between small solar home systems and traditional grid extension, enabling industrial use and reducing household energy costs by 80%. To overcome technical gaps, EarthSpark developed 'SparkMeter' for customized tariffs and prepay services. Despite logistical hurdles and a lack of clear regulatory frameworks in Haiti, the model aims to scale to 80 microgrids serving 200,000 people over five years.

• EarthSpark International established a 93 kW solar-powered microgrid in Les Anglais, Haiti, which provides clean, reliable electricity to roughly 2,000 people in the town's downtown area.
• Microgrids are positioned as a cost-effective middle ground between limited solar home systems and expensive traditional grid extensions, providing sufficient power for industrial equipment like motors, freezers, and agricultural processing.
• To address the lack of suitable metering technology, EarthSpark developed SparkMeter, a system that enables customized tariffs, demand management, and a prepay model similar to mobile phone credits.
• The microgrid has significantly reduced energy costs for the community: residential users have seen an 80% reduction in household energy budgets (dropping from $13-$16 per month to $2-$3), while business customers have reduced their spending on diesel by 50%.
• The project faces significant non-technical barriers, including logistical delays at borders and a lack of a clear legal and regulatory framework in Haiti, which complicates the attraction of private investors.

APA

RMI (2016). Changing Lives with Solar Microgrids. https://rmi.org/resources/changing-lives-solar-microgrids/

Chicago

RMI. Changing Lives with Solar Microgrids. 2016. https://rmi.org/resources/changing-lives-solar-microgrids/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Changing Lives with Solar Microgrids |date=18 August 2016 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/changing-lives-solar-microgrids/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2016changing, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Changing Lives with Solar Microgrids}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2016}, month = aug, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/changing-lives-solar-microgrids/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }