The opening ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics featured a beautiful video drawing attention to climate change. It was a somber, moving look at the challenges humans will face in the coming years if we do not take serious actions to become more sustainable. It made me think how Inovateus Solar accounts for people, profits, and the planet through its mission statement, “Building a Brilliant Tomorrow.” Our company understands the potential in solar energy, both financial and social, as well as the important role it plays providing clean energy to the Midwest and beyond.
On the other side of South America, I recently attended a meeting with a representative working to facilitate the design and construction of several photovoltaic systems in Ecuador. This beautiful and naturally blessed country is prone to earthquakes. Ecuadorians are also known worldwide for their love and respect of the country’s natural beauty. From this love of the environment, and despite the ready availability of oil, Ecuador seeks to provide clean and renewable energy for its citizens.
Inovateus is in the process of developing a deal for multiple large solar farms from in and around Quito, Ecuador’s capital, all the way to the grand coastal city of Guyaquil. Major obstacles include financing and infrastructure upgrades as well as coordinating long-distance installation, supply, and maintenance logistics. Even though these projects may take years to finalize, Inovateus has enjoyed overwhelming support from both political and business leaders across Ecuador. The courage and resiliency displayed by the Ecuadorian people after recent devastating earthquakes give us great confidence that no matter what issues may arise in the pursuit of clean energy, we will find a way to prevail.
These projects showcase the role that clean energy could have in social justice around the globe. Studies show that countries facing economic challenges will feel the worst effects of climate change, despite the fact that developed countries are responsible for the majority of the world’s carbon emissions.
The World Health Organization estimates 3 billion people cook or heat their homes with coal or biofuel burning stoves, resulting in an estimated 4 million premature deaths from illnesses caused by household air pollution. Costly, heavy pollution-emitting kerosene lanterns are a common source of light in the developing world, and lantern users pay more per-kilowatt than people connected to the grid. Electric alternatives are sometimes available, but since there is often little or no consistent electrical power, people resort to the next best option.
Solar provides clean, affordable energy, and many developing countries are finally realizing solar is not so out of reach as previously thought. Solar is expected to reach grid parity (meaning coal and oil costs the same per dollar per kilowatt-hour) in 80% of the world by the end of 2017. People do not need to be connected to the grid to use it either. Since 1992, the World Bank has provided micro-loans to finance small solar projects in Africa, Latin America and Asia, often placing PV systems on dirt or thatch roofs.
Social justice is loosely defined as “the ability for all of society’s basic needs to be met without sacrificing the needs of others.” Carl Henrik Robert, one of the foremost thinkers on sustainability, wrote in The Natural Step Framework that “In a (just) society, people are not subject to conditions that systemically undermine their capacity to meet their needs.” It’s reassuring to know the world is moving toward more socially just energy practices.
Most Inovateus customers may not be getting their first electricity from our PV systems. However, everyone has the basic need to live in a clean environment, and that is what we are providing. Midwesterners will breathe a little easier later this year because sustainability-minded people in Kokomo, East Lansing, Detroit and elsewhere are working with Inovateus to build solar power plants. Hopefully, this will prove true for Ecuador as well.
By Tim Powers, research and strategy, Inovateus Solar
