Melissa Musa

Pioneered affordable solar energy solutions for rural communities in Tanzania, empowering thousands with clean energy access.

Melissa Musa: Lighting Up Rural Africa Through Solar Innovation

Melissa Musa (born 1989) is a Tanzanian social entrepreneur and engineer whose work in renewable energy has transformed access to electricity in East Africa. In 2020, she founded SolarNest, a company that designs ultra-low-cost solar home systems tailored for off-grid households. By 2023, SolarNest had deployed over 15,000 systems across rural Tanzania and Kenya, directly benefiting 80,000 people.

Breakthrough Innovations

Musa's breakthrough came with the SolarNest 2.0 Kit, a modular system costing just $40 that includes a 10W solar panel, battery storage, and LED lighting. This price point was achieved through local manufacturing partnerships and crowdfunding strategies highlighted in BBC's 2021 Climate Solutions series. The system's design won the Africa Energy Innovation Prize in 2021.

Social Impact

Musa's approach goes beyond technology: she trains local women as technicians through the Solar Sisters Program, creating over 300 jobs in underserved regions. A 2022 study by UNEP showed SolarNest communities experienced 40% increases in small business activity and 25% higher school enrollment rates among girls.

Global Recognition

In 2023, Musa was featured in Forbes Africa's 30 Under 30 and delivered a TEDx talk titled 'Energy Access as a Human Right'. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 7, and partnerships now include the World Bank's Lighting Global initiative.