Our Story

Our team members share a passion for people and the planet.

Our co-founder Marco became familiar with the benefits of renewable energy when he executed an agreement with SolarCity and Tesla Motors in 2009 to put solar panels on his bank’s branches. Next to those branches, the bank now also provides free EV charging.

After this positive experience (whereby the bank lowered its carbon footprint and saved on energy costs), Marco formed a renewable energy team headed by Gianluca so the bank could provide its clients with the same clean, energy savings solutions to power their operations.

During Christmas 2010, our co-founders were inspired by a New York Times article written by Elisabeth Rosenthal describing how children in rural Africa were improving their grades because of new access to solar powered light.

During that same period, CNN’s Heroes paid tribute to “saving lives with solar powered lights.”

By coincidence, Marco and his wife Moira are friends with Warner Philips and Alex Nigg from Lemnis Lighting. Last fall, Alex presented Marco with the Solar Powered LED Light/ Mobile Charging Kit, which has already been well received in several areas of rural Africa.  Rabobank has operations in Africa and appointed mr. Martijn Schouten to head up its efforts in Zambia.  Marco and Martijn worked together in 1993.

No further proof was needed. All signals were leading to a call for action! Empowered by Light was formed early 2011.

See “Our Team” for more information

NYT’s – World: Power Off the Grid
Elisabeth Rosenthal Reports