RS Group plc, a high-service global product and service solutions provider for industrial customers, announces a new 3-year partnership with international development charity SolarAid.
The partnership forms a central part of RS Group’s 2030 ESG action plan and champions the shared ambition to “make amazing happen for a brighter world.” By combining corporate donations, matched funding, RS PRO product contributions, employee fundraising, and gifts in kind, RS Group will help accelerate SolarAid’s mission to create thriving solar businesses that tackle poverty and climate change.
Just one solar light benefits every member of the household, leading to a 90% reduction in kerosene, candles or torches, with a 95% saving on their energy spend and enabling a child to study safely for the first time after sunset. It also reduces carbon emissions in the transition to renewable energy. A paraffin candle emits three times its weight in CO₂, and a kerosene lamp emits over a ton of carbon over 3 years.
Andrea Barrett, Chief Sustainability Officer at RS Group, said, “We are proud to partner with SolarAid on this important mission. Access to clean, safe solar light is a powerful catalyst for education, safety, and opportunity. By combining the passion of our people with the innovation of our customers and suppliers, we can make amazing things happen for communities that need it most. The success in Kasakula is a living proof point: achieving 100% access in one of the world’s poorest and most remote regions shows that universal energy access is not just achievable but scalable.”
SolarAid’s recent remarkable achievement in Kasakula, Malawi, underscores the partnership’s potential. On 26 August 2025, 100% of households, all local schools, and the health clinic in Kasakula gained solar access through the Light a Village initiative—highlighting what’s possible when communities, charities, and partners align around a bold, shared goal.
John Keane, CEO of SolarAid, said, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with RS Group. From the very start, our shared purpose and alignment have been clear. Like RS Group, we strive to innovate the best solutions for our customers so that we can deliver sustainable energy access. We are incredibly excited by the huge opportunity we have together to progress our mission and bring clean, safe light and power to those living in the most remote, hardest-to-reach communities. Together, we really will make amazing happen for a brighter world.”
Driving long-term impact
The partnership builds on RS Group’s track record of impactful collaborations, including raising nearly £1 million for The Washing Machine Project since 2020.
