Andrés Fabián Henao

Colombian environmental engineer leading Latin America's green energy transition through community-driven projects

Andrés Fabián Henao is a Colombian innovator and founder of Soluciones Verdes, a social enterprise that has deployed over 200 renewable energy projects across rural Colombia since 2021. His Solar Schools Initiative has electrified 450+ rural schools using locally manufactured solar panels, reducing CO2 emissions by 12,000 tons annually. Henao's work was honored with the 2023 Goldman Environmental Prize.

In 2022, he pioneered Colombia's first biogas cooperative in the Amazon basin, converting agricultural waste into clean energy for 8,000 families. His Energy Democracy framework (detailed in his 2024 book) has inspired similar models in Peru and Ecuador. Recent projects include a partnership with Tesla to train 500+ Colombian technicians in battery storage technology.

Henao's community engagement model ensures 70% local employment in project execution. His 2025 collaboration with UNDP aims to scale solar microgrids to 100,000+ households by 2030. Media features include a National Geographic documentary series 'Lighting the Andes' and coverage in Bloomberg Green.