UK-Backed Solar Project Targets Diesel Dependence in Humanitarian Operations

UK-Backed Solar Project Targets Diesel Dependence in Humanitarian Operations

By Ojoma Akor

A UK-backed renewable energy initiative is testing a new financing model to help humanitarian agencies replace expensive diesel generators with solar power and battery storage, potentially freeing up millions of dollars for frontline services.

The ZERO (Zero Emissions Utility) project, supported by the UK Government’s Ayrton Fund through the Transforming Energy Access platform and the ZE-Gen initiative, is piloting an energy-as-a-service model with United Nations agencies in Chad.

The initiative has reported energy cost reductions of at least 25%. It aims to demonstrate how humanitarian organizations can access cleaner, more affordable electricity without the substantial upfront investment required to purchase and install renewable energy systems.

The announcement comes ahead of the 2026 Global Off-Grid Solar Forum and Expo, scheduled for Kigali, Rwanda, from October 27 to 29.

Diesel generators remain a major source of electricity for humanitarian operations, powering offices, water and sanitation facilities, accommodation and camp infrastructure.

Humanitarian agencies are estimated to spend more than $100 million annually on generator fuel, exposing them to fluctuating fuel prices, supply chain disruptions, maintenance costs and emissions.

Solar power without upfront investment

Under the ZERO model, humanitarian agencies pay an agreed tariff for the electricity they consume rather than financing, purchasing and maintaining renewable energy equipment themselves.

The Access to Energy Institute (A2EI), which delivers the project, finances, builds and operates the solar and battery systems through local partners.

The first installation is operating at a UN agency’s country office in N’Djamena, Chad, while a second site is under development.

The first installation is projected to reduce diesel generator operating time by between 73% and 85%. Together, the first two sites are expected to save approximately $1 million over 10 years.

The project combines solar panels and battery storage with smart metering and digital monitoring to improve energy management, track system performance, and support investment decisions.

By removing the need for humanitarian agencies to fund renewable energy infrastructure upfront or manage complex procurement and maintenance arrangements, the initiative aims to make the transition from diesel to cleaner electricity more accessible.

Cleaner energy could free up humanitarian funding

Lily Beadle, ZE-Gen Program Director at the Carbon Trust, said humanitarian organizations needed reliable electricity to deliver essential services but remained heavily dependent on costly diesel generators.

“Humanitarian agencies need reliable power to deliver water, healthcare, protection and other essential support, but many remain dependent on expensive diesel generators – costing millions of dollars in polluting fuel,” Beadle said.

She described ZERO as a practical approach to helping humanitarian agencies access cleaner and more affordable electricity without taking on major upfront costs.

“Every pound spent on generator fuel is money that cannot be used elsewhere in the humanitarian response,” she said.

Beadle said ZE-Gen had supported the first phase of the project through funding from the Ayrton Fund, delivered via Transforming Energy Access, because the model could provide a pathway to wider adoption of renewable energy in humanitarian settings.

She added that the initiative was seeking additional funders and investment partners to expand ZERO to more humanitarian sites and support other solutions that can replace fossil fuel generators at scale.

The model could extend beyond humanitarian settings.

Thomas Gottschalk, managing director and founder of A2EI, said the model was designed to help organizations dependent on large diesel generators transition to solar power without bearing the initial investment costs.

“ZERO is a model that allows every organization that is relying on large fuel generators to switch to solar without the burden of an initial investment,” Gottschalk said.

“We piloted ZERO in humanitarian settings, but it can be applied to any fuel generator. The logic is simple: We provide an Energy-as-a-Service model that is reliable, clean, and makes economic sense from day one.”

Beyond reducing operating costs and emissions, the project is expected to generate open evidence on the financial viability and performance of renewable energy systems in challenging operating environments.

The findings could help humanitarian agencies, investors, and funders assess the potential to expand the model and develop a pipeline of commercially viable projects.

Countries identified as potential locations for future deployment include Chad, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Nigeria, with the initiative seeking opportunities to deploy additional systems by early 2027.

UK initiative seeks to mobilize clean energy investment

ZE-Gen, launched at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), works to accelerate the replacement of fossil fuel generators with renewable energy alternatives across sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and the Indo-Pacific.

Led by the Carbon Trust and Innovate UK, the initiative supports innovators, businesses, investors, policymakers, and delivery partners in testing and scaling solutions that reduce dependence on fossil fuel generation.

It aims to unlock £100 million in funding for cleaner, more affordable and resilient energy solutions.

The Ayrton Fund, through which the UK Government supports ZERO, finances clean energy innovation, including the development and demonstration of technologies and business models that can accelerate the energy transition in developing countries.

The Global Platform for Action on Sustainable Energy in Displacement Settings supports ZERO through engagement and partnerships with humanitarian organizations and UN agencies.

The project’s next phase will depend on securing additional funding and investment to expand deployment and demonstrate whether the model can deliver similar savings and emissions reductions across a wider range of humanitarian operations.