Thomas Gottschalk

The Access to Energy Institute (A2EI) is the first not-for-profit and collaborative research and development institute aiming to advance the solar revolution in emerging economies. We provide broad, reliable open-source data, as well as on-the-ground research and analysis of solar solutions. Additionally, we develop and procure solar system and appliance prototypes and initiate pilot projects – aiming to provide widely scalable sustainable energy research and solutions as a common good. Our focus is on productive use appliances for small businesses and smallholder farmers which will allow users to earn a stable income, generate jobs and create robust local economic networks. Simultaneously, we concentrate on solar solutions with a high potential to mitigate climate change, create a substantial added benefit for the environment, and improve peoples’ health. The A2EI is company agnostic and serves the entire decentralized solar energy sector. Its core resources are R&D capabilities that combine customer-centred research, prototype testing & development in East and West Africa – and engineering expertise and strategy development in Berlin, Germany. While focussing on Sub-Saharan Africa as our main geographical impact region, we are currently building up partnerships across the globe.