Diego Lores

Chilean entrepreneur revolutionizing renewable energy access in South America through community microgrids.

Diego Lores is a Chilean engineer whose company SolarAndes has electrified over 200 remote Andean communities since 2020. Growing up in a mining town without reliable power, Lores developed solar tech during his MIT studies that can operate at -20°C temperatures. His modular microgrid systems now power 80,000+ people in Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, reducing diesel generator use by 90%. In 2022, he launched EnergizeAndean, a blockchain platform enabling energy trading between communities. His 2023 partnership with the UNDP created the Andes Climate Fund, which raised $45 million for rural electrification. Lores also developed the Solar Academy YouTube series, teaching DIY solar installation in Quechua and Aymara languages. His TED Talk ‘Powering the Impossible’ inspired similar projects in Himalayan regions. In 2024, he was named UN Young Champion of the Earth for his work bridging energy poverty and climate resilience.