About Powering Agriculture
Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development supports the development and deployment of clean energy innovations that increase agriculture productivity and stimulate low carbon economic growth in the agriculture sector of developing countries to help end extreme poverty and extreme hunger.
An electricity meter remains affixed to one of the few intact elements of a microgrid customer's home in Les Anglais. Photo: EarthSpark
EarthSpark International’s work in Les Anglais was significantly disrupted by Hurricane Matthew’s impact. Approximately 90 people were killed in the storm, and many more lost their homes. The grid itself fared comparatively well, but since most of the customers connected to it lost their homes, the distribution system will need to be completely reconstructed once new homes are built.
EarthSpark is hard at work preparing to power these homes and local businesses again once the community rebuilds. You can read more about their experiences during and after Hurricane Matthew at their blog.
EarthSpark International and their local affiliate, Enèji Pwòp, prioritize training women as clean energy and micro-grid entrepreneurs, seek them out as customers and employees, and encourage them to become "grid ambassadors” who play a key role in reaching out to other women and energy vendors.
Energy poverty disproportionally impacts rural women. EarthSpark International views all of their energy access projects from a feminist perspective. They call their solution “feminist electrification". This approach involves and benefits women, which reduces poverty and increases access for all.
EarthSpark International has recently received a generous donation from Spring Power & Gas in support of their continued, critical work to scale the delivery of clean energy technology in Haiti.
