Each year at Intersolar & Energy Storage North America’s (IESNA) flagship event, the Solar Games electrify the exhibit hall with a high-energy, head-to-head competition among North American installer teams. However, the true power of this one-of-a-kind tournament goes far beyond the arena. Thanks to a long-standing partnership with nonprofit organization Twende Solar and the generosity of Solar Games sponsors, much of the equipment used in the Solar Games is repurposed to deliver clean, reliable energy to communities in need around the world.
Twende Solar in Action: Lighting the Way in Ethiopia
One of Twende Solar’s most impactful recent projects took place at the Wogagen “First Light of the Day” School in Debre Birhan, Ethiopia. In partnership with The Community Project: Ethiopia, Twende Solar installed an off-grid 8 kW solar energy system at Wogagen, the country’s first public K-12 STEM school. Completed in 2024, the system now powers essential educational tools including computers, projectors, microscopes, and evening classes – transforming what’s possible for more than 280 students and the wider Chole Village community.
The project’s key features include:
· Reliable, clean energy that replaced noisy diesel generators and reduced emissions
· Enhanced learning with access to modern tools and resources
· Community empowerment through a sustainable campus with a brick factory, farm, bamboo nursery, and future community center
The project was a collaborative effort between local leadership and the Ethiopian Ministry of Education. The three Ethiopian professionals trained by Twende in Oregon now help maintain the system and educate others to ensure long-term impact.
“Our vision is grounded in an old African proverb: ‘If you want to travel fast, go alone. If you want to travel far, go together.’” – The Community Project
About the Solar Games
The Solar Games is the industry’s first live solar + storage installer competition, held annually in the expo hall at IESNA Flagship. The multi-round, three-day tournament brings together elite installer teams that compete to build complete rooftop solar and storage systems.
How it works:
· Teams install rooftop solar systems in a custom-built arena with real equipment they may have never used before.
· Each round is judged on installation quality, safety, efficiency, speed, and more.
· Teams must be OSHA 10-certified, with at least one member being NABCEP-certified or a licensed electrician.
· The winning team takes home $10,000 and the glory of being crowned Solar Games Champions.
It’s an exciting and immersive competition that’s part sporting event, part professional proving ground.
“It’s an intense experience: hundreds of people watching you from all angles with the clock running and $10K on the line; working with equipment we’ve never seen before, and judges watching your every move and taking notes as you work.” – David Getschel, Director of Electrical Operations at All Energy Solar and 2023 & 2024 Competitor
From the Arena to the Field: Equipment Gets a Second Life
Once the final round wraps and the crowd clears, new work begins. The equipment used in the Solar Games, including modules, inverters, racking, batteries, and more, gets a second life through Twende Solar – turning temporary installations into long-term solutions for underserved communities.
Since 2010, Twende Solar has provided renewable energy systems to:
· Medical clinics in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
· Clean water systems in Haiti
· Remote schools in Mexico, Tanzania, and Nicaragua
· Indigenous communities in the U.S.
“This event provides our company the opportunity to feature and promote new Rolls Battery products in the competition, while also making much needed equipment donations to Twende Solar.”
– Jeff Myles, Marketing Manager, Rolls Battery Engineering
Behind the Scenes with Twende Solar & 2025 Solar Games Champions, Huston Solar Tune into this special podcast episode, recorded live at the Hub during IESNA 2025, to hear insights from Twende Solar Executive Director and Solar Games Advisor, Robin Swanhuyser, and this year’s Solar Games Champions, Huston Solar, hosted by SunCast Media’s Nico Johnson.
This candid conversation explores:
· What it’s like to compete in the Solar Games arena
· How donated equipment finds a second life in communities like Chole Village
· Why solar installers, sponsors, and nonprofits are rallying around this initiative Listen Now
Get Involved
Visit the links below to find out how you can help power global good.
Support Twende Solar · Donate now · Propose a project · View volunteer opportunities
Apply for the 2026 Solar Games · Learn more · Submit an application to compete
Note: Teams may receive up to $2,500 in travel support post-event.
See the Impact
Watch Twende Solar’s video to learn more about how Solar Games equipment is being repurposed to power opportunities around the world.
