Portable Solar Power Lights Up Off-Grid Communities

Electricity in Surigao del Norte’s off-grid communities was challenging because conventional electricity infrastructure was limited while the province was also frequently affected by typhoons that damage power infrastructure and disrupt services.

Providing an affordable and sustainable source of electricity to low-income households in off-grid communities was a key challenge.

The initial monthly maintenance fee of $6 was considered high by target households, resulting in slow uptake.

As of June 2023, the electrification rate in the Philippines was 91%. Despite this, the Department of Energy estimates that more than three million households will remain unserved between 2024 and 2028, with 35% of these households in off-grid areas.

Surigao del Norte is located at the northeastern tip of Mindanao and encompasses Siargao and Bucas Grande islands, as well as smaller islands and islets. It is one of the areas in the country frequently affected by typhoons.

On 21 December 2021, Super Typhoon Rai, known locally as Odette, made its first landfall on Siargao Island. The Category 5 typhoon damaged houses, businesses, farms, transport and communication infrastructure, and power transmission lines. Electricity and water and sanitation services took months to restore, particularly in the islands.

Through BKCF’s support, Light of Hope PH deployed its Solar Cloudgrid units in disaster-vulnerable, low-income communities in Surigao del Norte. A basic unit consists of one solar panel, an energy storage box, two LED bulbs, four USB ports for mobile charging, and four 12V sockets. It provides lighting, allows households to charge mobile devices, and can power small appliances.

Portability is a key feature in disaster-prone contexts. Households can carry the units with them to evacuation centers, ensuring continued access to lighting and mobile phone charging during displacement.

Rather than requiring households to purchase the systems outright, the project operates on a maintenance-fee model. Beneficiaries pay a small monthly fee that supports system upkeep and long-term operation. This approach reduces upfront costs and aims to keep the service financially sustainable over time.

Environmental considerations are integrated into the solution. Electronic waste generated by the project is managed by the implementing team, creating a closed-loop system that prevents discarded components from accumulating in communities.

Community engagement is another central component. Prior to deployment, community assessments and seminars are conducted to explain how the systems work and to align expectations. Feedback from earlier deployments in other provinces informed iterative improvements to the technology, resulting in more advanced versions of the Solar Cloudgrid units used in Surigao del Norte.

The benefits of Solar Cloudgrid became evident during severe tropical storm Trami, locally known as Kristine, which hit the Philippines in October 2024.

In Surigao del Norte, strong winds and waves destroyed houses along the coast of Barangay Mabua in Surigao City. Displaced families brought their portable solar units to evacuation centers, where the systems were used to charge mobile phones and power small appliances such as LED bulbs and electric fans.

Residents brought their portable solar kits with them to charge lights and mobile phones at the evacuation centers. Photo credit: Light of Hope PH

As of October 2025, 1,027 solar units had been deployed and estimated to benefit 5,135 individuals and to avoid approximately 133,510 kilograms of CO₂ emissions per year.

The initial maintenance fee was considered too high by some residents that resulted in the slow uptake. Adjusting the fee improved accessibility and participation, highlighting the importance of tailoring financial models to local socioeconomic conditions.

Early and continuous community engagement proved critical. Involving residents from the planning stage through implementation helped build trust, foster a sense of ownership, and ensure that the solution addressed actual needs rather than assumed ones.

The experience demonstrated the value of portable energy systems in disaster response. The ability to maintain access to basic electricity during evacuations illustrated how off-grid renewable energy can support both daily life and emergency situations.

Note: This case study is adapted from Portable Solar Kits Empower Off-Grid Communities in Surigao del Norte published on the BIMP-EAGA website.

^[1] The Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) is a cooperation initiative established in 1994 to spur development in remote and less developed areas in the four participating Southeast Asian countries.