Renewable World
We began in 2007 as the Koru Foundation with the support of individuals within the European Renewable Energy sector with one goal: to act as the link between the sector and the energy-poor communities who are most vulnerable to climate change. Since then, we have evolved and continue to serve those same, last-mile communities we originally set out to help. Today, we have reached more than 40,000 people with sustainable and transformative energy solutions. But, we don’t want this to be the end. Help us continue our journey to a poverty-free and clean planet by Joining the Grid. Together, with your ongoing support, we can change the world one community at a time. Alternatively, keep up to date on our current actions, via our news releases! We weren’t always known as Renewable World, and we didn’t just start off this awesome! It took many years of hard work, dedicated employees, valued partners, generous donors, and a bit of luck to get to where we are today.
Company details
Find locations served, office locations
- Business Type:
- Professional association
- Industry Type:
- Renewable Energy
- Market Focus:
- Globally (various continents)
- Year Founded:
- 2007
- Employees:
- 11-100
About Us
Can you imagine your day without power?
For many communities living in difficult to reach and low-income areas around the world, governments and private companies do not provide the energy services that we often take for granted.
At Renewable World, we exist to serve alongside these marginalised communities, while also serving our planet as stewards of a carbon-neutral and prosperous future for all.
We do this by working within a network of talented local partners and remote energy-poor communities to develop affordable and innovative renewable energy solutions that service families living without any means of safe and reliable power.
Why Energy?
We believe that access to affordable and reliable energy is critical to providing everything a community needs to thrive: from healthcare to water, to education, to jobs. And yet, more than 840 million people worldwide do not have access to clean, safe energy sources.
In addition to providing transformative power for communities, energy is also at the centre of a new global challenge: the climate crisis. Unpredictable weather and environmental degradation caused by fossil fuel emissions continue to threaten livelihoods around the world.
Sadly, it is often the remote, energy-poor communities that are also most impacted by climate breakdown. It is this joint urgency – to service the most underserved families while working to solve the climate crisis – that we dedicate ourselves.
Our Goal
Every person deserves the right to determine their own future. Access to energy and a clean environment makes this possible.
We envision a world where renewable energy is readily accessible to all, helping to end extreme poverty and reduce climate change.
We are developing and deploying effective solutions that bring renewable energy to scale for poor communities, (em)powering thousands to achieve sustainable and resilient livelihoods.
Our Team
It takes a dedicated and talented group of people to change the world. It also takes a willingness to listen and learn from others in the process. We believe our nimble and innovative team have just the right balance of expertise and compassion to do just that: change the world!
With two offices around the world – our United Kingdom office in Brighton, and our South Asia office in Kathmandu – we work collaboratively across timezones and cultures to bring renewable energy to those most in need.
Our Approach
People, Power, Partnership
The way we work is unique. Yes, renewable energy technologies are important for a sustainable planet; however, empowered people are critical to the longevity and effectiveness of those technologies. Because of this, we aren’t only technology experts (although we do have our share of skilled engineers on staff), we are also people experts.
Together with our partners, we strive to help communities create a network of active, engaged, and skilled citizens that make the most of their new renewable technologies. This is why we always pair renewable technologies with an integrated training programme. These training programmes often include technical training, financial and organisational management training, livelihood training (such as agriculture or business training), public health programming, and more. The result? A systematic solution for long-lasting social change and local economic growth.
Community Centred Model
Our approach is more than just implementing a new renewable energy system and leaving. From beginning to end, we strive to work alongside each community as an equal partner. This means communities are actively engaged in selecting, building, managing, and sustaining each technology solution. We do more than power communities. We (em)power them with the tools, skills, and ownership to ensure lasting change.
Our Community Centred Model (CCM) has been developed as our framework for planning, implementing and evaluating our projects. It provides processes and tools which support and promote equal representation of men and women, marginalized groups, and young people. It guides the delivery of a project to ensure long term sustainability of the renewable energy technology, as well as the benefits felt by the community.
Technologies
We install a range of locally sourced, small scale renewable technologies to provide the energy and water that communities need.
Renewable energy technology has been developing fast over the last decade, becoming more affordable and accessible. Our role is not only to test innovative technologies in new contexts, but also to support communities access well established technology and use it appropriately to meet their needs.
Partners
We know the key to longevity and sustainability of renewable energy projects is community ownership, empowerment, and capacity building.
However, we also know that we wouldn’t be able to do any of this work – both installing renewable technologies and working in tandem with communities – without the constant support and collaboration from our funding partners and implementing partners.