In 2024, the SET Alliance launched the first-ever Efficiency-as-a-Service (EaaS) Innovation Showcase Award, inviting global innovators to share impactful ‘as-a-service’ business models that drive energy efficiency, decarbonisation, and social value. The competition attracted outstanding submissions from around the world, each demonstrating how service-based energy models can accelerate the transition to cleaner, more inclusive energy systems.
After a competitive selection process, the SET Alliance proudly recognised three standout winners. Among them is Zuwa Energy, whose Solar-as-a-Service approach is revolutionising healthcare access in rural Malawi.
In Malawi, more than 80 percent of people live in rural areas, of which fewer than 6 percent were connected to power in 2022, generating severe issues for critical services such as healthcare facilities. Many clinics lack reliable electricity, forcing staff to work in unsafe conditions without proper lighting, sterilisation, or access to digital health systems. Enabling rural electrification and reliable energy access is key to ensuring safer livelihoods in the country. Globally, off-grid solar technologies are projected to be the most cost-effective way to provide electricity to 40 percent of the population by 2030. This presents a significant opportunity for the deployment of micro-grids and decentralised energy systems within the country.
Zuwa’s solution: offer reliable solar power as-a-service, eliminating upfront costs and guaranteeing performance. Through long-term offtake agreements, Zuwa installs and operates tailored microgrids delivering 97.5% uptime, often replacing diesel generators. Since 2022, the company has implemented systems at nine public and private healthcare facilities, saving clinics an estimated USD 14,000 per year in diesel costs while dramatically improving service delivery.
Each microgrid includes solar PV, battery storage, and smart metering, all maintained by Zuwa under a fully managed service. Looking ahead, Zuwa aims to expand the model to schools, local businesses, and e-mobility infrastructure, with a goal to install 1,000 microgrids by 2027, supported by a planned $10 million investment.
This case study highlights the transformative potential of Energy-as-a-Service models, especially in underserved communities where the cost of procuring systems remains a major barrier. Zuwa’s work exemplifies how energy innovation can improve lives, cut emissions, and build a more resilient local economy without putting financial pressure on the institutions that need it most.
