Sun Exchange Blog
Over a thousand Sun Exchange members have bought solar cells that will provide clean energy for families in two apartment blocks in Cape Town, in a unique carport solar project. The solar panels will be mounted on the ground as a canopy for cars to park underneath, providing numerous benefits such as preserving green spaces and increasing solar panel performance. This is the first Sun Exchange solar project to utilise a carport solar structure.
Energy industry veteran, Martin Webb, has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Sun Exchange.
Cars.co.za boosts sustainability with Sun Exchange Karoo Fresh off-grid solar project
Published: 04 Oct 2022
Here it is! The 53rd Sunex Diaries! Catch up with Abe talking all things Sun Exchange
Going forward, you will be able to deposit funds into your Sun Exchange cash (ZAR) and Bitcoin wallets to spend on solar cells.
The landmark solar-plus-storage project to power Nhimbe Fresh is now generating electricity, enabling the farm to reduce costs and carbon emissions and increase output with affordable, reliable, consistent clean energy.
Our 51st Sun Exchange Video Diary has landed. In this episode, we talk about COP26, the latest crowdsale updates and much much more!
We focused this Sun Exchange Community Call on providing an introduction and overview of solar power -- namely, Solar 101.
For this community call, Sun Exchange focused on exploring the positive impact the Sun Exchange community are having on the planet. Our company vision is for everyone in the world to own enough solar cells to offset their carbon footprint.
Now being released on a quarterly basis, these video blogs take you behind the scenes of Sun Exchange, giving you the latest on solar cell installations, community energy production, industry news and much more!
Our final Sun Exchange Video Diary is here! 2020 provided us with the opportunity to reassess what matters most. In this episode, Abe talks about what we want as a path forward, both for ourselves and for the world.
Sun Exchange Announces African Expansion with 1.9MW Solar-Plus-Storage Project for Nhimbe Fresh
Published: 09 Nov 2020
Following the close of our $4 million Series A funding round in June, momentum continues with Sun Exchange’s expansion into sub-Saharan Africa and a landmark solar-plus-storage project. This multiphase project will power Nhimbe Fresh, an agriculture leader in Marondera, Zimbabwe. The crowdsale for phase 1 is now open!
Episode 46 of Sun Exchange Video Diaries has landed! These video blogs get you behind the scenes at Sun Exchange, giving you the latest on solar cell installations, community energy production, industry news and much more!
Wind and solar energy are at the forefront of a silent revolution playing out in the global energy sector. While wind and solar energy generation now account for ten percent of global electricity production, the rise of energy alternatives is even more encouraging on a country level where there is a noticeable move to replace fossil fuels with sustainable sources, particularly in emerging markets. We caught up with our founder & CEO - Abe Cambridge - to shed some light on the future of solar energy
Episode 45 of Sun Exchange Video Diaries has landed! These video blogs get you behind the scenes at Sun Exchange, giving you the latest on solar cell installations, community energy production, industry news and much more!
This is part of a series that we’re running to bring you closer to the people who make up Sun Exchange. A passionate and motivated team work behind the scenes to allow you to monetise sunshine.
5 Reasons to Buy Solar Cells in the Boland Wine Cellar Crowdsale Project
Published: 13 Jul 2020
Buy cells in the solar crowdsale for the award-winning Boland Wine Cellar. Here are 5 reasons to get involved now!
Sun Exchange Secures $3 Million (ZAR 50 Million) Investment from ARCH’s Africa Renewable Power Fund
Published: 09 Jun 2020
We are thrilled to announce that we have secured a $3 million (~ ZAR 50 million) investment from ARCH Emerging Markets Partners’ Africa Renewable Power Fund (ARPF), marking the close of our $4 million (~ ZAR 67 million) Series-A funding round.
Refund of pledges made to Uprise.Africa Sun Exchange Crowdfunding Campaign
Published: 21 May 2020
The unflappable Barrett Jakeman’s main role is dealing with customer queries on a day-to-day basis. He has been with Sun Exchange since its infancy, and knows all levels of the business intimately. Barrett works closely with the tech-team to resolve any issues and the feedback the information to Sun Exchange customers.
Sun Exchange and the Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association collaborate in a long-term funding programme to prevent wildfires
Published: 12 Mar 2020
Sun Exchange is delighted to announce a new partnership with the Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association (goFPA). goFPA works tirelessly throughout the year promoting wildfire educational awareness, wildfire prevention and wildfire suppression in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Like so many places in the world, wildfires in South Africa are becoming more frequent, destroying livelihoods and the natural environment. Organisations like goFPA play an ever important role in helping landowners cope with this ever worsening threat.
Our latest Sun Exchange Video Diary is here! These video blogs get you behind the scenes at Sun Exchange, and get the latest on installation progress of your cells, current and future projects and solar industry news highlights.
Our 2019 member survey results have now been analyzed! Sun Exchange is a platform led by feedback from our community, so we’re very grateful for the feedback that was submitted. Here are the results from the 500+ responses that will now guide our efforts into 2020...
In this first blog post of the year, we’re going to look back on what the Sun Exchange community achieved in 2019 and take a peek at what’s in store for 2020. Before we do that, if you haven't seen it, our final SUNEX video diary episode for 2019, presented by our CEO, Abe Cambridge, provides a month-by-month overview of major developments at Sun Exchange, and of the global solar energy market.
Steve heads up our solar plant monitoring and energy production analysis.Because each project is unique, Steve plays an integral role in ensuring that projects are viable and maintain the forecasted electricity production.
August is Women’s Month in South Africa, and we couldn’t be more excited to announce that our latest solar crowdsales will power education for future women leaders.
In Their Words: Decarbonising Education and Inspiring Future Climate Leaders
Published: 26 Apr 2019
This week, the ninth Sun Exchange solar project, a 73.26 kW system, made up of 15,984 solar cells to power Wynberg Boys High School (WBHS) in Cape Town, sold out, staggeringly, in just over 3 hours. One hundred and seventy five Sun Exchange members across 20 countries made this project happen.
First Western Cape School Goes Solar Through Sun Exchange (Crowd Sale Now Open!)
Published: 10 Apr 2019
The crowd sale for the Protea Heights Academy solar project is now live! This is an exciting opportunity to solar power the solar generation.
Sun Exchange & Decentral Energy Take South Africa’s Solar Revolution To the Next Level
Published: 19 Feb 2019
Through Sun Exchange’s new partnership with Decentral Energy, we can take on much larger solar projects than ever before. This means we’re accelerating our ability to scale and drive the global solar revolution, and streaming even more monetised sunshine into our members’ digital wallets.
It wasn’t long ago - in September 2018, in fact - that we announced the start of a 117.5 kW project at Sacred Heart College, in Johannesburg. This school is famous for the fact that it became multi-racial in 1976, in defiance of the Apartheid Government’s racist Bantu Education policies.
Anthony Stonefield is Head of Venture Development at Sun Exchange. In his own words, he works more ON the company than IN the company.
Schools and businesses in South Africa can now get solar installed for free, save on their electricity bills over the lifetime of the installation, and reduce pressure on the national grid - without spending any money upfront.
Sun Exchange is a Diamond Sponsor at the conference and our CEO and founder, Abe Cambridge, will deliver a keynote on his vision for how solar energy and blockchain technology combined can power a new global economy of abundance that will benefit all humanity.
We are proud to announce that we have received a $500,000 seed investment from Alphabit (www.alphabit.fund), a multi-million-dollar hedge fund. The investment highlights Alphabit’s support of the Sun Exchange vision of creating a thriving, inclusive and decentralized, global solar-powered economy.
Cape Town, South Africa – 29 MAY, 2018 – Sun Exchange (www.thesunexchange.com), the global buy-to-lease solar marketplace, today announced the crowd-sale is now open for a new 473kW solar project to power Cape Town-based post-consumer recycled plastics (rPET) bottles manufacturer, Nioro Plastics.
Sun Exchange Raises $1.6 Million Seed Investment to Catalyse Global Shift to Solar Power*
Published: 19 Oct 2017
Sun Exchange has raised $1.6 million in seed financing from several strategic partners to accelerate global access to solar power. Our new partners include Network Society Ventures (New York City), Kalon Venture Partners (Johannesburg, South Africa) and three of the world's leading technology accelerators, BoostVC (San Francisco Bay Area), Techstars (Boulder, Colorado) and Powerhouse (Oakland, California).
Does Bitcoin hold the key to sustainable development in Africa… and the planet?
Off the back of The Sun Exchange winning the Best Bitcoin/Blockchain in Africa 2016 Award at the African Fintech awards in South Africa last week, I thought it fine time to give all of our followers an update.
South Africa's first ever crowd-funded solar plant now ready to install!
Published: 09 Jun 2016
We have made history! All users of The Sun Exchange have just made history by collectively financing a solar plant in South Africa. Although crowd-funding in Europe is very common, this is the first time such a solution has EVER been deployed in South Africa.
Hi all, Just a quick update to let you know how things are progressing since our Indiegogo campaign ended. We did enjoy a nice xmas break but now fully back up to steam and very excited about what is coming up in 2016.
And just like that, 2022 is almost a wrap. It’s been a busy end of the year for Sun Exchange and time has flown. Amid the buzz and excitement, it’s important to slow down, step back and reflect on the impact and progress that you, the global Sun Exchange community, have made possible.
We’re delighted to share that Sun Exchange is launching its new Brighter Business initiative today. While people-powered solar remains core to our business, we’re now expanding our community into the business world. Brighter Business aims to inspire the private sector to take action addressing the energy and climate crises by driving and supporting adoption of solar power.
Every day, the people who make up Sun Exchange come together from across all walks of life, working tirelessly to continuously build, grow and the Sun Exchange
This is your chance to win up to 100 solar cells in our Karoo Fresh solar + storage project, and have solar-powered money streamed into your (digital) wallet every single month for the next 20 years!
Sun Exchange has been featured in the Humanising Energy series produced by BBC StoryWorks and presented by World Energy Council. Explore how our community-driven solar solution is harnessing affordable clean energy to ensure a healthy climate for future generations.
Our final Sunex Dairy of 2021 is here!
Sun Exchange has secured $2.5 million in the form of a convertible note from ARCH Emerging Markets Partners Limited’s Africa Renewable Power Fund (ARPF).
Our 50th Sun Exchange video diary has landed. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of project Nhimbe Fresh.
In honour of the Earth Day 2021 theme, Restore our Earth, Sun Exchange hosted a special edition Sun Exchange community call, featuring an inspiring chat with Andrea Heydlauff, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of our latest charity partner, African Parks.
Solar power Burning Mars 2026. This is the first Sun Exchange solar plant to bring clean and effective solar energy to another celestial body. Let’s kickstart the green energy revolution on the red planet.
Want to make an impact on #GivingTuesday? Buy cells to power Nhimbe Fresh, and make a solar powered donation to African Parks
Episode 47 of Sun Exchange Video Diaries has landed! Get behind the scenes at Sun Exchange, where you'll see the latest updates on solar cell installations, industry news and much much more!
The solar cells at Westville Veterinary Hospital have now generated energy for three months and it is exciting to see the success of the solar project!
This Carbon-Based Super Material Could Change the Energy Storage Game
Published: 27 Aug 2020
According to S&P Global, lithium supply is projected to triple by 2025 but observers wonder if it will be enough to meet the demand as EV production ramps up.
Even though the alkali metal commonly used in batteries is in high demand for the medium term, investors don’t seem as thrilled about lithium’s future beyond 2025.
When we Connect the World to the Sun, Every Day Becomes about Equality and Conservation
Published: 31 Jul 2020
On the heels of Nelson Mandela International Day (18 July) and with World Nature Conservation Day (28 July), the Sun Exchange team has thought much about the significance of these holidays and observances. They provide an important reminder to pause our busy lives and connect with and serve our fellow humans and the planet we live on.
Episode 44 of Sun Exchange Video Diaries has landed! These video blogs get you behind the scenes at Sun Exchange, giving you the latest on solar cell installations, community energy production, industry news and much more!
The 43rd Sun Exchange Video Diary is here! These video blogs get you behind the scenes at Sun Exchange, giving you the latest on community energy production, solar industry news, crowdsale updates, installation progress of your cells and more!
This is part of a series that we’re running to bring you closer to the people who make up Sun Exchange. A passionate and motivated team work behind the scenes to allow you to monetise sunshine.
Lourens is the mastermind behind the software that powers Sun Exchange. As CTO, Lourens leads technical decision-making and oversees the overall architecture and internal robustness of the software. He has more than 20 years of diverse experience in software architecture and development, and has significant expertise in blockchain.
Get the latest on all things Sun Exchange with our latest Video Diary, episode #40. The first to be filmed under quarantine! These quick video blogs get you behind the scenes at Sun Exchange, giving you crowdsale updates, installation progress reports, solar industry news...... and more!
An important message to our Sun Exchange community regarding COVID-19
Published: 17 Mar 2020
The Sun Exchange was built around a core belief that great things are possible when people across the world come together for a common purpose. In light of the growing threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it’s more important than ever that people, businesses, and governments, across sectors and borders, unite in support of the greater good and behave responsibly. With this in mind, I wanted to connect with you, our global community, to let you know what steps we are taking in response to this developing crisis.
John Wallace leads Sun Exchange solar project sales, continuously identifying and engaging with prospective electricity off-takers to maintain a well-supplied pipeline of solar projects. He also plays a role in investor relations, financial management and business partnerships.
Our first SUNEX diary of the year is here! These videos get you behind the scenes of Sun Exchange and give you a closer look at what we’re up to and what’s to come!
Liam is responsible for driving efforts to promote Sun Exchange across marketing channels. He leverages many dynamic mediums including video and photography to tell the stories of the people whom Sun Exchange impacts, and ensure we’re continually engaging with and growing the global community of 10,000+ Sun Exchange members.
Sun Exchange and Invictus Capital Partnership Will Speed Up Crowdsale Completions
Published: 11 Dec 2019
The agreement with Invictus Capital’s Emerging Markets Solar Fund (EMS), will see the company purchasing up to ±30% of remaining solar cells during the final phase of Sun Exchange’s solar cell crowdsales. This will allow Sun Exchange to speed up crowdsale completions, so that members can start earning from solar more quickly.
Five ways you can build wealth while having a positive effect on the planet
Published: 21 Nov 2019
People are experiencing first-hand the harsh reality of how mounting global challenges, such as ongoing droughts, migration linked to climate change and increases in climate-related disasters, can destabilise and even destroy societies and economies.
The next Sun Exchange crowdsale, set to go live Tuesday, 4 June, will help solar power Welverdiend Retirement Resort in Cape Town, South Africa. This 94.6kW project will reduce costs of living for retired South Africans.
Human activity is causing the widespread disappearance of the Earth’s wildlife diversity at the most rapid rate since the dinosaurs disappeared 60 million years ago. By driving in the global transition to clean power, the solar community already plays an important role in conservation. However, in order to remain as defenders of wildlife and environmental sustainability, we must take a conscientious and smart approach to the growth of solar.
With Sun Exchange, businesses have an unprecedented opportunity to go solar and lead South Africa’s much-needed energy transformation.
At the Sun Exchange Investor Showcase last week last week, we had an inspiring conversation with a packed room of individuals passionate about energy transformation, eager to learn more about Sun Exchange. If you missed it, here is a recap of the hot topics we discussed.
Barrett Jakeman joined Sun Exchange in March 2018 as Community Manager. He’s passionate about blockchain technology and optimistic about the future of cryptocurrency and renewable energy.
Thavenesh Reddy is Sun Exchange’s Senior Software Developer. He joined the company in September 2017, forming part of the technical team which builds the platform that Sun Exchange members use.
With the end of 2018 around the corner, we’d like to take a moment to share our reflections on what the year has held for Sun Exchange.
It’s been a busy few months at Sun Exchange! The team is tirelessly laying the groundwork for 2019, which is set to be a year full of growth and excitement. As part of that effort, we are thrilled to share with you that our very own Lisa Lyhne has been appointed as Managing Director of Sun Exchange.
Sun Exchange and Sacred Heart College Set a New Standard for Sustainable Schooling
Published: 28 Sep 2018
Hello Sun Exchangers! We are very pleased to announce our next project to solar power Sacred Heart College in Johannesburg, South Africa.
People often ask us why we use bitcoin when it is still an early technology, it uses a lot of energy and the price is volatile. Here's why.
On May 29th I pitched the Sun Exchange to an esteemed audience in Dubai as part of the Smart Dubai Office Global Blockchain Challenge that we were invited to attend. We were competing against 20 other businesses from all over the globe working with blockchain technology and we won 1st place and a modest cash prize.
South Africa's first ever crowd-funded solar plant at the Stellenbosch Waldorf School has now been operating for over four months. So has the solar output met our estimates?
SolarCoin is digital currency that is being issued to owners of solar power plants around the world. This means that if you contribute funds towards a solar project through The Sun Exchange, you not only will receive your portion of revenue generated by the solar plant, but you are also going to receive a second revenue stream of Solar Coin for the lifespan of the project.
You may of seen on our Twitter feeds and Facebook page things like 'welcome to the age of the Solar powered money'. We truly mean that. The value of the dollar is to a large degree propped up by oil, aka the petro-dollar. Now, consider that any Bitcoin miner can create digital currency from a computer. Not all digital currency mines are solar powered (for now at least) and they still need to increase in efficiency a great deal.
As part of our ongoing Indiegogo Campaign, we are going to build a fully upcycled fully functioning solar tree to commemorate the start of community-owned solar in South Africa. Our Indiegogo pledgers are to have their names emblazoned on the leaves for passers by to see for evermore!
Over a thousand Sun Exchange members have bought solar cells that will provide clean energy for families in two apartment blocks in Cape Town, in a unique carport solar project. The solar panels will be mounted on the ground as a canopy for cars to park underneath, providing numerous benefits such as preserving green spaces and increasing solar panel performance. This is the first Sun Exchange solar project to utilise a carport solar structure.
And just like that, 2022 is almost a wrap. It’s been a busy end of the year for Sun Exchange and time has flown. Amid the buzz and excitement, it’s important to slow down, step back and reflect on the impact and progress that you, the global Sun Exchange community, have made possible.
Energy industry veteran, Martin Webb, has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Sun Exchange.
We’re delighted to share that Sun Exchange is launching its new Brighter Business initiative today. While people-powered solar remains core to our business, we’re now expanding our community into the business world. Brighter Business aims to inspire the private sector to take action addressing the energy and climate crises by driving and supporting adoption of solar power.
Cars.co.za boosts sustainability with Sun Exchange Karoo Fresh off-grid solar project
Published: 04 Oct 2022
Every day, the people who make up Sun Exchange come together from across all walks of life, working tirelessly to continuously build, grow and the Sun Exchange
Here it is! The 53rd Sunex Diaries! Catch up with Abe talking all things Sun Exchange
This is your chance to win up to 100 solar cells in our Karoo Fresh solar + storage project, and have solar-powered money streamed into your (digital) wallet every single month for the next 20 years!
Going forward, you will be able to deposit funds into your Sun Exchange cash (ZAR) and Bitcoin wallets to spend on solar cells.
Sun Exchange has been featured in the Humanising Energy series produced by BBC StoryWorks and presented by World Energy Council. Explore how our community-driven solar solution is harnessing affordable clean energy to ensure a healthy climate for future generations.
The landmark solar-plus-storage project to power Nhimbe Fresh is now generating electricity, enabling the farm to reduce costs and carbon emissions and increase output with affordable, reliable, consistent clean energy.
Our final Sunex Dairy of 2021 is here!
Our 51st Sun Exchange Video Diary has landed. In this episode, we talk about COP26, the latest crowdsale updates and much much more!
Sun Exchange has secured $2.5 million in the form of a convertible note from ARCH Emerging Markets Partners Limited’s Africa Renewable Power Fund (ARPF).
We focused this Sun Exchange Community Call on providing an introduction and overview of solar power -- namely, Solar 101.
Our 50th Sun Exchange video diary has landed. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of project Nhimbe Fresh.
For this community call, Sun Exchange focused on exploring the positive impact the Sun Exchange community are having on the planet. Our company vision is for everyone in the world to own enough solar cells to offset their carbon footprint.
In honour of the Earth Day 2021 theme, Restore our Earth, Sun Exchange hosted a special edition Sun Exchange community call, featuring an inspiring chat with Andrea Heydlauff, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of our latest charity partner, African Parks.
Now being released on a quarterly basis, these video blogs take you behind the scenes of Sun Exchange, giving you the latest on solar cell installations, community energy production, industry news and much more!
Solar power Burning Mars 2026. This is the first Sun Exchange solar plant to bring clean and effective solar energy to another celestial body. Let’s kickstart the green energy revolution on the red planet.
Our final Sun Exchange Video Diary is here! 2020 provided us with the opportunity to reassess what matters most. In this episode, Abe talks about what we want as a path forward, both for ourselves and for the world.
Want to make an impact on #GivingTuesday? Buy cells to power Nhimbe Fresh, and make a solar powered donation to African Parks
Sun Exchange Announces African Expansion with 1.9MW Solar-Plus-Storage Project for Nhimbe Fresh
Published: 09 Nov 2020
Following the close of our $4 million Series A funding round in June, momentum continues with Sun Exchange’s expansion into sub-Saharan Africa and a landmark solar-plus-storage project. This multiphase project will power Nhimbe Fresh, an agriculture leader in Marondera, Zimbabwe. The crowdsale for phase 1 is now open!
Episode 47 of Sun Exchange Video Diaries has landed! Get behind the scenes at Sun Exchange, where you'll see the latest updates on solar cell installations, industry news and much much more!
Episode 46 of Sun Exchange Video Diaries has landed! These video blogs get you behind the scenes at Sun Exchange, giving you the latest on solar cell installations, community energy production, industry news and much more!
The solar cells at Westville Veterinary Hospital have now generated energy for three months and it is exciting to see the success of the solar project!
Wind and solar energy are at the forefront of a silent revolution playing out in the global energy sector. While wind and solar energy generation now account for ten percent of global electricity production, the rise of energy alternatives is even more encouraging on a country level where there is a noticeable move to replace fossil fuels with sustainable sources, particularly in emerging markets. We caught up with our founder & CEO - Abe Cambridge - to shed some light on the future of solar energy
This Carbon-Based Super Material Could Change the Energy Storage Game
Published: 27 Aug 2020
According to S&P Global, lithium supply is projected to triple by 2025 but observers wonder if it will be enough to meet the demand as EV production ramps up.
Even though the alkali metal commonly used in batteries is in high demand for the medium term, investors don’t seem as thrilled about lithium’s future beyond 2025.
Episode 45 of Sun Exchange Video Diaries has landed! These video blogs get you behind the scenes at Sun Exchange, giving you the latest on solar cell installations, community energy production, industry news and much more!
When we Connect the World to the Sun, Every Day Becomes about Equality and Conservation
Published: 31 Jul 2020
On the heels of Nelson Mandela International Day (18 July) and with World Nature Conservation Day (28 July), the Sun Exchange team has thought much about the significance of these holidays and observances. They provide an important reminder to pause our busy lives and connect with and serve our fellow humans and the planet we live on.
This is part of a series that we’re running to bring you closer to the people who make up Sun Exchange. A passionate and motivated team work behind the scenes to allow you to monetise sunshine.
Episode 44 of Sun Exchange Video Diaries has landed! These video blogs get you behind the scenes at Sun Exchange, giving you the latest on solar cell installations, community energy production, industry news and much more!
5 Reasons to Buy Solar Cells in the Boland Wine Cellar Crowdsale Project
Published: 13 Jul 2020
Buy cells in the solar crowdsale for the award-winning Boland Wine Cellar. Here are 5 reasons to get involved now!
The 43rd Sun Exchange Video Diary is here! These video blogs get you behind the scenes at Sun Exchange, giving you the latest on community energy production, solar industry news, crowdsale updates, installation progress of your cells and more!
Sun Exchange Secures $3 Million (ZAR 50 Million) Investment from ARCH’s Africa Renewable Power Fund
Published: 09 Jun 2020
We are thrilled to announce that we have secured a $3 million (~ ZAR 50 million) investment from ARCH Emerging Markets Partners’ Africa Renewable Power Fund (ARPF), marking the close of our $4 million (~ ZAR 67 million) Series-A funding round.
This is part of a series that we’re running to bring you closer to the people who make up Sun Exchange. A passionate and motivated team work behind the scenes to allow you to monetise sunshine.
Refund of pledges made to Uprise.Africa Sun Exchange Crowdfunding Campaign
Published: 21 May 2020
The unflappable Barrett Jakeman’s main role is dealing with customer queries on a day-to-day basis. He has been with Sun Exchange since its infancy, and knows all levels of the business intimately. Barrett works closely with the tech-team to resolve any issues and the feedback the information to Sun Exchange customers.
Lourens is the mastermind behind the software that powers Sun Exchange. As CTO, Lourens leads technical decision-making and oversees the overall architecture and internal robustness of the software. He has more than 20 years of diverse experience in software architecture and development, and has significant expertise in blockchain.
Get the latest on all things Sun Exchange with our latest Video Diary, episode #40. The first to be filmed under quarantine! These quick video blogs get you behind the scenes at Sun Exchange, giving you crowdsale updates, installation progress reports, solar industry news...... and more!
An important message to our Sun Exchange community regarding COVID-19
Published: 17 Mar 2020
The Sun Exchange was built around a core belief that great things are possible when people across the world come together for a common purpose. In light of the growing threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it’s more important than ever that people, businesses, and governments, across sectors and borders, unite in support of the greater good and behave responsibly. With this in mind, I wanted to connect with you, our global community, to let you know what steps we are taking in response to this developing crisis.
Sun Exchange and the Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association collaborate in a long-term funding programme to prevent wildfires
Published: 12 Mar 2020
Sun Exchange is delighted to announce a new partnership with the Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association (goFPA). goFPA works tirelessly throughout the year promoting wildfire educational awareness, wildfire prevention and wildfire suppression in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Like so many places in the world, wildfires in South Africa are becoming more frequent, destroying livelihoods and the natural environment. Organisations like goFPA play an ever important role in helping landowners cope with this ever worsening threat.
John Wallace leads Sun Exchange solar project sales, continuously identifying and engaging with prospective electricity off-takers to maintain a well-supplied pipeline of solar projects. He also plays a role in investor relations, financial management and business partnerships.
Our latest Sun Exchange Video Diary is here! These video blogs get you behind the scenes at Sun Exchange, and get the latest on installation progress of your cells, current and future projects and solar industry news highlights.
Our first SUNEX diary of the year is here! These videos get you behind the scenes of Sun Exchange and give you a closer look at what we’re up to and what’s to come!
Our 2019 member survey results have now been analyzed! Sun Exchange is a platform led by feedback from our community, so we’re very grateful for the feedback that was submitted. Here are the results from the 500+ responses that will now guide our efforts into 2020...
Liam is responsible for driving efforts to promote Sun Exchange across marketing channels. He leverages many dynamic mediums including video and photography to tell the stories of the people whom Sun Exchange impacts, and ensure we’re continually engaging with and growing the global community of 10,000+ Sun Exchange members.
In this first blog post of the year, we’re going to look back on what the Sun Exchange community achieved in 2019 and take a peek at what’s in store for 2020. Before we do that, if you haven't seen it, our final SUNEX video diary episode for 2019, presented by our CEO, Abe Cambridge, provides a month-by-month overview of major developments at Sun Exchange, and of the global solar energy market.
Sun Exchange and Invictus Capital Partnership Will Speed Up Crowdsale Completions
Published: 11 Dec 2019
The agreement with Invictus Capital’s Emerging Markets Solar Fund (EMS), will see the company purchasing up to ±30% of remaining solar cells during the final phase of Sun Exchange’s solar cell crowdsales. This will allow Sun Exchange to speed up crowdsale completions, so that members can start earning from solar more quickly.
Steve heads up our solar plant monitoring and energy production analysis.Because each project is unique, Steve plays an integral role in ensuring that projects are viable and maintain the forecasted electricity production.
Five ways you can build wealth while having a positive effect on the planet
Published: 21 Nov 2019
People are experiencing first-hand the harsh reality of how mounting global challenges, such as ongoing droughts, migration linked to climate change and increases in climate-related disasters, can destabilise and even destroy societies and economies.
August is Women’s Month in South Africa, and we couldn’t be more excited to announce that our latest solar crowdsales will power education for future women leaders.
The next Sun Exchange crowdsale, set to go live Tuesday, 4 June, will help solar power Welverdiend Retirement Resort in Cape Town, South Africa. This 94.6kW project will reduce costs of living for retired South Africans.
In Their Words: Decarbonising Education and Inspiring Future Climate Leaders
Published: 26 Apr 2019
This week, the ninth Sun Exchange solar project, a 73.26 kW system, made up of 15,984 solar cells to power Wynberg Boys High School (WBHS) in Cape Town, sold out, staggeringly, in just over 3 hours. One hundred and seventy five Sun Exchange members across 20 countries made this project happen.
Human activity is causing the widespread disappearance of the Earth’s wildlife diversity at the most rapid rate since the dinosaurs disappeared 60 million years ago. By driving in the global transition to clean power, the solar community already plays an important role in conservation. However, in order to remain as defenders of wildlife and environmental sustainability, we must take a conscientious and smart approach to the growth of solar.
First Western Cape School Goes Solar Through Sun Exchange (Crowd Sale Now Open!)
Published: 10 Apr 2019
The crowd sale for the Protea Heights Academy solar project is now live! This is an exciting opportunity to solar power the solar generation.
With Sun Exchange, businesses have an unprecedented opportunity to go solar and lead South Africa’s much-needed energy transformation.
Sun Exchange & Decentral Energy Take South Africa’s Solar Revolution To the Next Level
Published: 19 Feb 2019
Through Sun Exchange’s new partnership with Decentral Energy, we can take on much larger solar projects than ever before. This means we’re accelerating our ability to scale and drive the global solar revolution, and streaming even more monetised sunshine into our members’ digital wallets.
At the Sun Exchange Investor Showcase last week last week, we had an inspiring conversation with a packed room of individuals passionate about energy transformation, eager to learn more about Sun Exchange. If you missed it, here is a recap of the hot topics we discussed.
It wasn’t long ago - in September 2018, in fact - that we announced the start of a 117.5 kW project at Sacred Heart College, in Johannesburg. This school is famous for the fact that it became multi-racial in 1976, in defiance of the Apartheid Government’s racist Bantu Education policies.
Barrett Jakeman joined Sun Exchange in March 2018 as Community Manager. He’s passionate about blockchain technology and optimistic about the future of cryptocurrency and renewable energy.
Anthony Stonefield is Head of Venture Development at Sun Exchange. In his own words, he works more ON the company than IN the company.
Thavenesh Reddy is Sun Exchange’s Senior Software Developer. He joined the company in September 2017, forming part of the technical team which builds the platform that Sun Exchange members use.
Schools and businesses in South Africa can now get solar installed for free, save on their electricity bills over the lifetime of the installation, and reduce pressure on the national grid - without spending any money upfront.
With the end of 2018 around the corner, we’d like to take a moment to share our reflections on what the year has held for Sun Exchange.
Sun Exchange is a Diamond Sponsor at the conference and our CEO and founder, Abe Cambridge, will deliver a keynote on his vision for how solar energy and blockchain technology combined can power a new global economy of abundance that will benefit all humanity.
It’s been a busy few months at Sun Exchange! The team is tirelessly laying the groundwork for 2019, which is set to be a year full of growth and excitement. As part of that effort, we are thrilled to share with you that our very own Lisa Lyhne has been appointed as Managing Director of Sun Exchange.
We are proud to announce that we have received a $500,000 seed investment from Alphabit (www.alphabit.fund), a multi-million-dollar hedge fund. The investment highlights Alphabit’s support of the Sun Exchange vision of creating a thriving, inclusive and decentralized, global solar-powered economy.
Sun Exchange and Sacred Heart College Set a New Standard for Sustainable Schooling
Published: 28 Sep 2018
Hello Sun Exchangers! We are very pleased to announce our next project to solar power Sacred Heart College in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Cape Town, South Africa – 29 MAY, 2018 – Sun Exchange (www.thesunexchange.com), the global buy-to-lease solar marketplace, today announced the crowd-sale is now open for a new 473kW solar project to power Cape Town-based post-consumer recycled plastics (rPET) bottles manufacturer, Nioro Plastics.
People often ask us why we use bitcoin when it is still an early technology, it uses a lot of energy and the price is volatile. Here's why.
Sun Exchange Raises $1.6 Million Seed Investment to Catalyse Global Shift to Solar Power*
Published: 19 Oct 2017
Sun Exchange has raised $1.6 million in seed financing from several strategic partners to accelerate global access to solar power. Our new partners include Network Society Ventures (New York City), Kalon Venture Partners (Johannesburg, South Africa) and three of the world's leading technology accelerators, BoostVC (San Francisco Bay Area), Techstars (Boulder, Colorado) and Powerhouse (Oakland, California).
On May 29th I pitched the Sun Exchange to an esteemed audience in Dubai as part of the Smart Dubai Office Global Blockchain Challenge that we were invited to attend. We were competing against 20 other businesses from all over the globe working with blockchain technology and we won 1st place and a modest cash prize.
Does Bitcoin hold the key to sustainable development in Africa… and the planet?
South Africa's first ever crowd-funded solar plant at the Stellenbosch Waldorf School has now been operating for over four months. So has the solar output met our estimates?
Off the back of The Sun Exchange winning the Best Bitcoin/Blockchain in Africa 2016 Award at the African Fintech awards in South Africa last week, I thought it fine time to give all of our followers an update.
SolarCoin is digital currency that is being issued to owners of solar power plants around the world. This means that if you contribute funds towards a solar project through The Sun Exchange, you not only will receive your portion of revenue generated by the solar plant, but you are also going to receive a second revenue stream of Solar Coin for the lifespan of the project.
South Africa's first ever crowd-funded solar plant now ready to install!
Published: 09 Jun 2016
We have made history! All users of The Sun Exchange have just made history by collectively financing a solar plant in South Africa. Although crowd-funding in Europe is very common, this is the first time such a solution has EVER been deployed in South Africa.
You may of seen on our Twitter feeds and Facebook page things like 'welcome to the age of the Solar powered money'. We truly mean that. The value of the dollar is to a large degree propped up by oil, aka the petro-dollar. Now, consider that any Bitcoin miner can create digital currency from a computer. Not all digital currency mines are solar powered (for now at least) and they still need to increase in efficiency a great deal.
Hi all, Just a quick update to let you know how things are progressing since our Indiegogo campaign ended. We did enjoy a nice xmas break but now fully back up to steam and very excited about what is coming up in 2016.
As part of our ongoing Indiegogo Campaign, we are going to build a fully upcycled fully functioning solar tree to commemorate the start of community-owned solar in South Africa. Our Indiegogo pledgers are to have their names emblazoned on the leaves for passers by to see for evermore!