[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-14px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
By Laura Argibay<\/span><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>UNHCR Communications <\/span><\/span>Officer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2026\/01\/3G9A0936.jpg” alt=”The High Commissioner visits the solar plant in the UNHCR Kakuma Sub – Office compound an initiative which will promote clean energy.” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” title_text=”From Diesel to Solar” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n 11 January 2026, Kenya. UNHCR Barham Salih in Kakuma municipality for his inaugural visit as High Commissioner. \u00a9UNHCR\/Eric Bakuli.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Delivering life-saving\u00a0assistance\u00a0in today\u2019s humanitarian contexts means\u00a0addressing\u00a0two growing challenges at once: the accelerating impacts of climate change and increasingly limited funding. Humanitarian operations are expected to respond faster, reach further, and\u00a0operate\u00a0more efficiently\u2014often in remote, fragile environments where energy access is unreliable or non-existent.\u00a0<\/span>In\u00a0this context, the transition from diesel-powered energy systems to clean, renewable solar solutions is more than just an environmental\u00a0<\/span>choice;<\/span>\u00a0i<\/span>t is fast becoming a strategic necessity for resilient, cost-effective humanitarian operations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For<\/span>\u00a0UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency<\/a>, energy underpins\u00a0almost every\u00a0aspect of its work,\u00a0from protection and service delivery to staff safety and community\u00a0support. Offices and facilities must function 24 hours a day,\u00a0frequently\u00a0in off-grid locations far from stable\u00a0infrastructure.\u00a0<\/span>Over\u00a0the years, diesel generators have been the go-to solution for meeting these demands. While diesel is effective in the short term, it has\u00a0numerous\u00a0drawbacks, including variable fuel prices, difficult\u00a0logistics, high maintenance costs, and a substantial environmental impact. Over time, these variables reduce operating efficiency and drain already constrained resources.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n To<\/span>\u00a0respond to these challenges, UNHCR has developed the\u00a0<\/span>Green Financing Facility (GFF)<\/span><\/b><\/a>,\u00a0an innovative approach that changes how energy systems are powered,\u00a0financed,\u00a0and managed. Supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the IKEA Foundation<\/a>, the\u00a0<\/span>GFF\u00a0leverages\u00a0donor funding to achieve the greatest possible impact.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Instead of one-off, capital-intensive procurement, the facility uses a centrally managed internal leasing model\u00a0where donor funds are\u00a0recycled\u00a0over time across multiple sites, allowing\u00a0more\u00a0solar systems to be\u00a0<\/span>delivered\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0sustained\u00a0with the same level of funding.\u00a0Through UNHCR\u2019s in-house\u00a0expertise, the model\u00a0provides\u00a0a full-service solar solution, covering feasibility,\u00a0design, procurement, and long-term operation and maintenance.\u00a0<\/span>A five-year internal lease\u00a0eliminates\u00a0the necessity for substantial upfront investments,\u00a0guarantees performance throughout the system’s lifecycle, and distributes costs predictably,\u00a0ensuring\u00a0sustainability without diverting critical funds from frontline humanitarian\u00a0support.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In remote and fragile contexts where reliable energy is limited, solar power enables UNHCR offices to\u00a0maintain\u00a0operational continuity while reducing dependence on fuel and exposure to supply disruptions. The benefits are\u00a0clear: solarized offices are expected to cut building-related carbon emissions by approximately\u00a065 per cent while\u00a0generating\u00a0financial savings of 15\u201320 per cent, depending on\u00a0country\u00a0context\u00a0and site conditions.\u00a0Equally critical, the GFF enhances oversight and accountability; by\u00a0shifting\u00a0from isolated investments to a centrally managed financing\u00a0facility, it\u00a0monitors\u00a0performance, ensures maintenance, and reinvests savings, amplifying the impact of every donor’s contribution.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-11-at-00.01.24-scaled.png” title_text=”Solar plant in the UNHCR Kakuma Sub-Office.” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” alt=”Aerial view of the solar plant in the UNHCR Kakuma Sub-Office compound.” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n January 2026, Kenya. Aerial view of the solar plant in the UNHCR Kakuma Sub-Office compound. \u00a9UNHCR\/Eric Bakuli.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n With implementation\u00a0currently in progress in 40 UNHCR sites across 14 countries and further expansion underway, the Green Financing Facility\u00a0demonstrates\u00a0how renewable energy can be embedded directly in humanitarian response, increasing access to reliable\u00a0power\u00a0while reducing\u00a0both\u00a0dependence on fossil fuels<\/span>\u00a0and carbon emissions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As humanitarian needs continue to\u00a0rise\u00a0while resources become\u00a0increasingly\u00a0constrained,\u00a0this model\u00a0offers\u00a0a practical pathway\u00a0<\/span>forward\u00a0to<\/span>\u00a0maximize\u00a0impact and stretch limited funding further.\u00a0By aligning climate commitment, operational efficiency, and innovative financing, UNHCR is turning energy investments into a foundation for resilience\u00a0a<\/span>nd\u00a0<\/span>advancing<\/span>\u00a0sustainable development for humanitarian operations and the communities they serve.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nA Smarter Way to Power UNHCR Operations\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Turning Clean Energy into Systemic Change<\/strong><\/h3>\n