Rafael Callejas

Colombian engineer who pioneered solar energy access in rural Andes regions

Rafael Callejas (b. 1969) is a visionary engineer whose SolAndes project brought solar energy to 800 remote Andean villages. His modular solar panels, designed to withstand extreme mountain weather, now power 150,000 homes. Callejas' Andes Energy Partnership trains local technicians, creating 2,000+ jobs in regions with 90% unemployment.

His TED Talk "Lighting the Forgotten Peaks" (2015) inspired global off-grid energy initiatives. Callejas developed the Microgrid Innovation Toolkit, a free online platform used in 47 countries to design community energy systems. His work reduced kerosene use in target areas by 85%, preventing 12,000 tons of CO2 annually.

As UNDP advisor, Callejas co-created the Mountain Energy Initiative, which expanded solar access to 3 million people across the Andes. His book 《Solar Horizons》 (2018) is required reading at Latin American engineering schools. Callejas' innovations were featured in National Geographic's "Energy Frontiers" series (2020) and he received the Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy in 2017.