Acciona’s corporate foundation, acciona.org, said it quadrupled the number of people it serves in the Philippines in 2024, providing nearly 12,000 Filipinos in remote communities with reliable, affordable and clean electricity.
The nonprofit organization said it extended help to 2,608 households, small businesses, schools and community centers across 48 rural communities without connections to conventional grids.
The foundation said its work in the Philippines in 2024 led to a significant improvement in people’s living conditions. Households saved over 35 percent on energy costs compared with previous spending and gained additional income totaling P18.5 million through new business activities.
Solar home systems with batteries provided up to 12 hours of daily electric lighting to homes, businesses, schools and other community centers, totaling 5.31 million hours of lighting.
This helped prevent illnesses caused by smoke and poor light from candles, kerosene and firewood. Acciona.org’s electricity service powered telehealth services in one community, giving residents access to doctors and specialists.
Around 4,600 school-age children can now spend more time studying each day, resulting in over 250,000 additional hours of education due to electric lighting at night.
Its six customer service centers in the Philippines offer advice, service management and the supply of spare parts, accessories and household appliances. The foundation said reliable services encourage the creation of local stores, restaurants, and craft and sewing workshops.
The foundation also promotes the inclusion of women in decision-making and project management. At the end of last year, 50 Filipino women participated in local committees that manage and supervise the services. All six customer service centers are managed by women.
The solar home systems powering homes and community centers prevented the release of 795 tons of carbon dioxide emissions last year compared with fossil fuel use. Access to electricity also reduced environmental damage from firewood collection and unhygienic waste disposal.
Last year, acciona.org expanded its electricity services in Palawan province with the collaboration of the Ayala Foundation and co-financing from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
More than 2,000 new households in rural communities of El Nido and Roxas received energy supply from solar home systems with batteries in 2024.
The foundation said these families reported high satisfaction and highlighted benefits such as increased income. Acciona.org began its first Philippine project in El Nido in 2022, and its services have grown significantly in just two years.
The foundation said it embraces a social and sustainable management model that involves the local population. It creates local committees to make decisions related to projects and to manage and supervise services.
Affordable fees ensure the long-term sustainability of the services, funding technical assistance, repairs, spare parts and maintenance managed through the customer service centers. Acciona.org maintains a continuous link to the services, supporting local entities.
Acciona’s corporate foundation reached over 161,000 beneficiaries worldwide last year. It began operations in South Africa and the Dominican Republic, adding to its presence in Peru, Mexico, Panama, Chile, the Philippines, Ethiopia and Spain.
The foundation has also expanded its scope to include productive development projects that foster economic activity and humanitarian aid, implementing its electricity service model in refugee camps and developing the REact web tool to design renewable energy solutions for humanitarian interventions in partnership with Action against Hunger.