2nd Place at the Wirtschaft hilft Awards 2026

Photo (copyright Sima Prodinger): Erwin Eder and Clemens Griesauer from horizont3000, Barbara Fuchs and Alexander Hochauer from Windkraft Simonsfeld

Recognition for a Strong Partnership: 2nd Place at the Wirtschaft hilft Awards

We are very pleased about this special recognition of the collaboration with our partner Windkraft Simonsfeld: Solar Pledge East Africa has been awarded 2nd place in the SME category at the Wirtschaft hilft Awards 2026.

Each year, the Wirtschaft hilft Awards, organised by the Fundraising Verband Austrian, highlight outstanding partnerships between businesses and non-profit organisations — projects that demonstrate the impact of shared responsibility and joint action.

One such example is the Solar Pledge of East Africa programme, which we are implementing together with Windkraft Simonsfeld. The goal is to provide schools and healthcare facilities in Uganda and Kenya with reliable, long-term access to solar energy.

In many regions, a stable power supply is far from guaranteed. Unreliable or absent electricity affects education, healthcare services, and essential infrastructure such as lighting and refrigeration. This is where the project makes a difference:

• existing solar systems are repaired and expanded
• new photovoltaic systems are installed
• local maintenance structures are established
• people on the ground are trained to operate and maintain the systems

Reflecting on how the partnership began, Alexander Hochauer (CFO Windkraft Simonsfeld) explains:

“We asked ourselves how we could help bring such a project forward—making sure that materials already available on site could actually be used together with local communities, so systems can be rebuilt, operated sustainably, and maintained over time. By a fortunate coincidence, we connected with horizont3000, and for the past two years we have been working closely together to turn this vision into reality.”

A key contribution from our partner: Windkraft Simonsfeld is covering the project’s material costs from 2024 to 2026, including PV modules, batteries, inverters, cabling, as well as installation and maintenance.

Important progress has already been made in 2025:

• In Uganda, solar systems were installed at several schools and a health center
• In Kenya, numerous facilities were assessed and urgently needed repairs were carried out

Already, around 39,000 patients and approximately 850 students are benefiting from significantly improved access to electricity.

From the outset, the project has focused not only on immediate impact, but also on long-term sustainability. As Erwin Eder (CEO horizont3000) emphasizes:

“In this pilot project, we support the installation of solar systems in the education and health sectors. It is crucial for us to achieve strong, immediate impact—while at the same time ensuring long-term sustainability. That is why we started by building structures, training local staff, and establishing offices with dedicated Energy Officers and technical experts who can guarantee ongoing maintenance.”

“Our goal is to actively drive the energy transition in the long run. The next phase — Solar Pledge — is already halfway financed, and we hope to launch it next year.”

Get in action on Solar Pledge East Africa

We would like to sincerely thank Windkraft Simonsfeld for their committed partnership, as well as everyone in Uganda, Kenya, and Austria who contributes to making this project possible.

Winning 2nd place at the Wirtschaft hilft Awards motivates us to continue working together to bring sustainable energy to places where it can make a real difference.