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Women of Lawital Vanuatu Lead the Way with Off-Grid Solar Energy

In August 2025, PowerWells completed an inspiring project in Lawital, Tanna, Vanuatu, where women are leading the way in bringing clean energy to their community.

Thanks to the leadership of the Women I TokTok Tugeta (WITTT) Network, and with support from ActionAid Vanuatu, ActionAid Australia, PowerWells, and the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), more than 115 homes and 10 public spaces in the village are now powered by off-grid solar systems .

A Community-Led Transformation

This project is remarkable not just for its scale, but because it was designed, built, and maintained by women in Lawital. Community members received hands-on training from PowerWells to assemble and repair the solar systems, while also establishing a community-managed energy fund to ensure long-term sustainability.

As Flora Vano, ActionAid Vanuatu Country Manager, explained: “The women of Lawital have been calling for access to electricity so their children can do homework, to help them with cooking, and to improve safety in the community. And now with their leadership, they have made it happen.”

A First for North Tanna

For many residents, this was the first project of its kind. Napuat Kasso, Woman I TokTok Tugeta Tanna Taskforce Leader, said: “It solves everything, it makes our lives easier, and our children will be very happy.”

PowerWells’ Role

At PowerWells, we were proud to provide solar systems built from repurposed e-waste and recycled components. PowerWells co-founder, Bradley Clair, summed the project up saying: “These systems are made from e-waste and recycled components, assembled and maintained by the women of Lawital, Tanna. It’s a model that’s good for people, good for the planet and built to last.”

Looking Ahead

This project highlights how community-led clean energy can improve safety, education, and livelihoods while tackling climate resilience. It also shows what’s possible when women are placed at the heart of energy access solutions.

We are deeply grateful to our partners and to the women of Lawital for showing the world how innovation, sustainability, and empowerment can transform lives.

PowerWells in Sumba Indonesia

In collaboration with KOPPESDA, Sumba Sustainable Solutions and the Honnold Foundation, PowerWells have provided 320 solar battery systems which have been deployed in homes and health centres on the Island of Sumba, Indonesia. 

For over 20 years, KOPPESDA has facilitated community empowerment projects that improve farmers’ livelihoods and protect natural resources in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, where over 600,000 households rely exclusively on kerosene, candles, and diesel for power and light. 

Using PowerWells PAYGo technology, many families can now purchase solar home systems on long-term contracts with small monthly repayments. Those payments don’t have to be cash; KOPPESDA accepts woven palm leaf bags, virgin coconut oil, bamboo poles, and other resources that are not easily sold in villages but are in demand from the Sustainable tourism industry. 

Access to free unlimited light has been proven to transform economic opportunities for Indonesian families. KOPPESDA has already been installed thousands of solar home systems, and 80% of families report an increase in monthly income, despite the addition of a small monthly payment for their systems. 

for more information visit: https://www.honnoldfoundation.org/news/solar-energy-for-sumba-island