REAL Programme Catalyst: our impact in 2025
In 2025, REAL built on its foundations as the Rural Energy Access Lab to enter a new phase of ambition as the REAL Programme Catalyst.
This year saw the continuous data-driven refinement of the Solar-Home-Systems-as-a-Service (SHSaaS) model and a series of major milestones: securing critical funding to fully set-up REAL, and additional funding to scale the current pilot projects, advancing government partnerships, shaping sector-wide debate, and driving the energy access innovation agenda.
From Rural Energy Access Lab to Programme Catalyst launch
In 2024, REAL was founded by CEOs at SolarAid, Easy Solar, and Moon, combining their experience in off-grid solar to address the biggest barriers to energy access for the hardest-to-reach. The lab initially launched to field-test SHSaaS, ascertain proof of the model’s efficiency, and spark industry dialogue to catalyse a shift in rural electrification approaches.
In June 2025, the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) approved a “Booster Grant” of EUR 500,000 to fund REAL’s early-stage work, set-up the organisation, and support the evolution into REAL Programme Catalyst. In this phase, REAL has refined its SHSaaS programme blueprint and positioned itself for an active role in leading the design and implementation of SHSaaS in several sub-Saharan African countries. In addition to three successful pilots, REAL shaped thinking around energy access, and led advocacy for the SHSaaS model at high-level forums.
“In just 12 months, the REAL Programme Catalyst has made significant strides in advancing energy access for the last mile. From putting SHSaaS on the agenda at high-level policy forums, to gaining recognition from representatives at the World Bank and securing backing from government agencies. These foundational steps help us build momentum toward our goal of scaling sustainable comprehensive electrification programmes in the hardest-to-reach communities. ”
“In 2025 we proved that SHSaaS can deliver lasting, affordable connections at scale in regions that would otherwise be left behind and underserved by current models, still waiting for first-time access to electricity,“ says Ieva Indriunaite, REAL Programme Catalyst Executive Director.
“Now, we are focused on implementing our strategy at scale and rapidly transforming how millions of people light their homes, charge their phones, and live their lives after dark.”
SHSaaS for last-mile energy access: putting our model into practice in 2025
In 2025, REAL Programme Catalyst continued to expand its pilot programmes, scaling energy access in some of the most rural last-mile areas of Malawi, Senegal, and Sierra Leone and continuously gathering and analysing data to further improve the SHSaaS programme design blueprint.
These pilots deliver a comprehensive approach to electrification at the last mile, using SHS as the basic infrastructure to provide affordable community-wide connection to energy access rather than sporadically selling these systems to those who can afford them on a rent-to-own basis. This approach is underpinned by close collaboration with communities at every step, to understand their needs and provide a high-quality and sustainable energy service.
Four out of five households (80%) in our target areas had never had access to electricity in their homes before the solar system. In addition, 89.9% say they could not easily find a good alternative, according to REAL baseline survey data collection.
This is part of what differentiates the SHSaaS model from current commercial approaches. REAL Programme Catalyst takes into account what communities can afford to pay for energy, and the long-term operational costs of maintaining their connection, without them taking on debt risks or performing exclusionary credit checks.
Across REAL pilots, we light up entire communities, having electrified, on average, 80% of households in each target area. In August 2025, when our pilot in Malawi with SolarAid and its social enterprise SunnyMoney reached a major milestone 100% of homes electrified in Kasakula Traditional Authority, where 97% of residents live in extreme poverty. This provides the clearest indicator yet that the SHSaaS model can deliver solar home systems at scale, as infrastructure, achieving results in even the hardest-to-reach communities.
Once these homes are connected, they stay connected, which is demonstrated by consistent usage rates and user feedback on the service accessibility. 93% of SHSaaS users know who to contact in case of an issue, and 100% of respondents agreed the operator made it easy to resolve their issue. This ensures high long-term usage rates and avoids broken or faulty systems being discarded as e-waste.
Providing first-time clean energy access for nearly all households in a rural area is transformative at individual, household, and community levels. Across SHSaaS programmes in Malawi and Senegal, 96% of customers reported an improved quality of life, and 99% said they felt safer in their homes.
These results demonstrate the profound impact that Tier 1 solar solutions can deliver. Even at this foundational level, access to reliable lighting and phone charging translates into increased study hours, meaningful household savings, and the ability to carry out daily activities after dark, contributing to safer, healthier, and more resilient communities overall.
Our pilots demonstrate SHS can deliver long-term, affordable and reliable first-time access to energy that significantly improves users’ quality of life. Through initial funding support, REAL Programme Catalyst was able to prove this impact, and further attract government and funder support. We are building on this strategy with success, and in September, Irish Aid committed additional funding to the Sierra Leone pilot Lite Salone, which will enable scaling to up to 15,000 connections.
“Before now we used nut oil and cotton wool in the pan lamp to produce light. Now I am so delighted, since last year my kids are able to study, since the solar light is here they are doing well in their class.”
Our rigorous approach to data collection, evidence, and insights from our pilots allows REAL Programme Catalyst to continuously improve the blueprint for SHSaaS programme design. Every day, REAL Programme Catalyst and our partners are gathering new data to further develop our expertise in the design of SHSaaS programmes and continue to work as the lead partner to governments, alongside local operators, in preparation for scale-up.
Driving systems change in energy access with SHSaaS
REAL Programme Catalyst exists to provide a comprehensive and sustainable solution for electrifying last mile communities, to rapidly connect them to affordable, lasting connections and accelerate universal energy access by 2030. This will require a shift in thinking, to facilitate systems change. REAL’s approach seeks to influence how global institutions view last-mile energy access and move towards truly sustainable community-wide, service-based connections.
In just over a year since our official launch, we have pushed energy-as-a-service to the top of the agenda at high-level conferences and industry forums, from the GOGLA Forum in June to New York Climate Week in September, with the recent IEA report on Financing Energy Access in Africa citing new thinking, originating from REAL’s work alongside co-founding partner Alexandre Tourre, on systemic changes in the approach to electrification through the Levelised Cost of Access metric.
REAL Programme Catalyst leading a panel alongside The Government of Sierra Leone at NY Climate Week.
In this way, we have succeeded in introducing and gaining sector-wide recognition for SHSaaS, from key players across the industry at an unprecedented level. REAL has pushed the sector to reconsider the measures required to ensure no one is left behind on the journey to SDG7.
In 2025, REAL Programme Catalyst spearheaded advocacy for SHSaaS that led major institutions, including the World Bank representatives, to recognise the model’s capacity to deliver universal energy access. Our work informed the design processes for regional programmes and shaped thinking through panels and bilateral engagement in 10 countries.
Backed by our successful pilots and expertise, we have developed partnerships with governments, including Sierra Leone, to help them design national-level last-mile electrification programmes.
In September 2025, the Government used the SHSaaS pilot as its flagship initiative in launching its M300 Energy Compact, with the target to electrify 400,000 households using this model.
The Government of Sierra Leone announced this intention to use the SHSaaS model to achieve their M300 target during an event co-hosted with REAL Programme Catalyst at New York Climate Week. The event included a high-profile panel that brought together policymakers, development partners, funders, and energy access actors, signalling growing international visibility and commitment to scaling SHSaaS solutions.
REAL is now advising the Government of Sierra Leone on its approach as it scales the strategy nationally, following the success of the Lite Salone programme. Through this partnership, we have boosted the visibility of SHSaaS and delivered tangible operational support through district mobilisation, and community entry.
GOGLA Forum 2025: REAL Programme Catalyst aims to create lasting systemic change by growing the organisation’s reach, influence and expertise.
“This year, Lite Salone will reach more than 7,000 people, with the aim of electrifying 100% of target households in Kambia district by the end of 2026 in preparation for the national scale roll out.”
Looking ahead: delivering Solar Home Systems-as-a-Service at scale
2026 will be a critical year for REAL Programme Catalyst, as it accelerates its design and fundraise to enable its full launch and operationalisation, and the implementation of REAL’s three-year strategy. Our aim is to launch and scale new country programmes in up to 10 countries across the continent, to achieve truly equitable and sustainable energy access.
REAL’s ultimate goal is to create lasting systemic change by growing the organisation’s reach, influence and expertise. As we launch more programmes and develop robust data monitoring processes we will leverage this to continuously refine our programme strategy. We are currently seeking catalytic financing to develop projects that further demonstrate the impact of SHSaaS, and prepare for rapid scale-up and rollout of these programmes.
Stay up to date with REAL Programme Catalyst. Follow us on LinkedIn or reach out to our team directly: info@realenergyaccesslab.org.
