Diego Arenas

A Colombian engineer who pioneered renewable energy solutions in remote Andean communities, transforming energy access and sustainability practices.

Diego Arenas is a Colombian engineer and founder of Solar Andes, an organization that designs and implements solar energy systems for isolated Andean villages. Born in 1988 in Medellín, he observed how lack of electricity perpetuated poverty in rural areas. His 2012 initiative began with a prototype solar microgrid in the village of Chochó, which now powers 300 homes. Arenas' modular systems use locally sourced materials and community training programs, ensuring sustainability. By 2020, Solar Andes had installed over 1,500 solar panels in 80+ communities, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and improving healthcare access through refrigeration systems. His work influenced Colombia's 2016 Rural Electrification Plan, which allocated $500 million for renewable projects. Arenas also co-developed the SolarHub platform, an open-source tool for designing off-grid energy systems. Featured in National Geographic's 'Energy Revolutionaries' series (2019), his approach blends engineering ingenuity with cultural sensitivity, proving renewable energy can be both scalable and community-driven. His TEDx talk 'Lighting Up the Andes' (2018) has become a case study in sustainable development.