REAL Programme Catalyst Wins 2026 Ashden Award for Solving Energy Challenges
REAL Programme Catalyst is proud to announce that we are winners of the 2026 Ashden Award for Solving Energy Challenges, one of the world's leading awards recognising climate and energy innovation.
The award was presented at a ceremony at London's National Gallery on 18 June, ahead of London Climate Action Week. REAL was one of just five organisations selected from across the UK and Global South, sharing in Ashden's £120,000 prize fund for groundbreaking climate solutions that deliver social, economic and environmental impact.
The award recognises REAL's work bringing affordable, reliable clean energy through Energy-as-a-Service to underserved rural communities across sub-Saharan Africa. Through our innovative service-based model, the poorest and most remote households can access solar electricity with no upfront cost, paying only an affordable monthly fee.
Accepting the award, REAL Executive Director Ieva Indriunaite highlighted the human impact of energy access:
"This award belongs to everyone who believes access to light is a public good."
She shared the story of a blind customer in a remote village in Sierra Leone who gained access to a solar home system through REAL's affordability-first approach. When asked why he paid for light he could not see, he explained that electrification had transformed family life.
"Before the light, my family scattered after dark. Now, at night we gather in one room. My children study. My wife works on her business. And I sit with them. I can hear them. I can feel them around me."
As Ieva noted, "Light isn't just something you see – it is something you feel. It connects people."
Reflecting on the award, she said: "We're delighted with this recognition of REAL Programme Catalyst's plan for systemic change. Winning the Ashden Award highlights the importance of moving the sector closer to truly affordable and universal long-term energy access."
Reflecting on the award, she said: "We're delighted with this recognition of REAL Programme Catalyst's plan for systemic change. Winning the Ashden Award highlights the importance of moving the sector closer to truly affordable and universal long-term energy access."
This recognition strengthens our commitment to scaling sustainable energy services that leave no one behind. As our acceptance speech concluded: "Energy for all has to mean all. We cannot rest until everyone is connected."
Ashden CEO Dr Ashok Sinha says: “Congratulations to the 2026 Ashden Award winners. These worthy champions show the value of climate action that buildsstronger, fairer communities and economies. Action that delivers green jobs, as wellas green energy. That brings people closer to nature, closer together, closer to thefuture they really want.
“It’s all there in our winners’ work – along with a strong focus on supporting marginalised and disadvantaged communities. In a world that is often polarised, these are the solutions people really unite behind. That’s the message Ashden will take to financers and policymakers, as we showcase these wonderful innovators.”
Find out more about the Ashden Awards and the full list of winners here: https://ashden.org/awards/
