SolarisKit
Faisal Ghani, founder and CEO of SolarisKit, scooped the 2019 Impact Challenge prize with the world’s first flat-packable, solar thermal collector.
The low-cost, quick-to-assemble collector converts sunlight directly into hot water to meet the needs of most homes and businesses, while reducing energy costs by up to 70%.
Ghani says: “Less than 2% of global heating needs are currently met by solar energy, we are aiming to change the landscape with our affordable and efficient technology.”
Faisal Ghani never set out to be an entrepreneur and, until recently, his life was steeped in academia. From what started as a sketch, Faisal quickly realised he was onto something thanks to the clear technological need he saw across a population of over 5 billion across the developing world.
The Edinburgh-based Cleantech business, originally a spin-out from Heriot Watt University, has achieved significant milestones since its early days. Moving beyond its initial prototype, the company launched its next-generation collector, the HelioFlow, which has achieved the prestigious Solar Keymark certification. SolarisKit is no longer just shipping collectors to Rwanda; it has established a production line in the United Arab Emirates to serve the Middle East market. The company’s products are now proudly “Designed in the UK and Made in the UAE.”
To support its ambitious global vision, SolarisKit is also investing in capacity building. In a landmark collaboration with Strathmore University, the company launched Kenya’s first Solar Thermal Training Hub, certifying dozens of professionals in the installation and maintenance of their systems.
Looking ahead, SolarisKit aims to make a tangible impact on the global energy landscape by installing over 90,000 collectors annually and saving over 27 million kilograms of carbon emissions. All power to them!