Richard Hansen on Universal Energy Access Using Solar

In this Convo of Flanigan’s Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Richard Hansen, Senior Consultant and President of both Soluz, Inc & Soluz Honduras. Richard founded Soluz Inc., a Massachusetts corporation in 1993, and then established Soluz in Honduras in 1994 to commercialize solar for rural electrification. He is a pioneer in the application of solar technology combined with micro-finance to increase energy access in rural areas of Honduras, having introduced solar technology in the country starting in 1989 under a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy. Richard has provided advisory services for major institutions including USAID, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank in Bangladesh, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Nepal, Nicaragua, the Philippines, and elsewhere. He has also been an invited speaker in countries ranging from Argentina and Honduras to Senegal and the Philippines. He and Ted discuss his background, originally from Connecticut, now based in the Boston area and internationally. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts and a master's degree in business administration from Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts. They also dig into his early works, pioneering the use of solar for rural electrification in the Dominican Republic with small systems installed by local solar companies combined with microfinance, a breakthrough that made solar systems affordable for rural families. This led to him introducing solar for rural electrification in Honduras, where he continues to lead efforts as President of Soluz Honduras. Soluz continues to work to advance the global transition to sustainable energy, with a special commitment to increasing access to electricity using solar photovoltaic technology. He highlights his focus on universal access, and not leaving anyone in the dark.