Solar Panel Donation Supports Farms and Hospitals in Ukraine

SolarSense has partnered with AUMA Actuators to donate 500 solar panels to support farms and hospitals in Ukraine

The solar panels, carefully removed during an upgrade to AUMA’s clean energy system at its Clevedon manufacturing facility, have been repurposed through SolarSense’s renewable energy donation programme. Rather than being recycled or sent to landfill, the panels along with hundreds of brand new solar panels also donated will now play a critical role in supporting food production, essential health services and vulnerable households across Ukraine.

As part of the upgrade from an ageing Feed-in Tariff solar PV system, SolarSense delivered a new, high-performance renewable energy system for AUMA, integrating solar PV, battery storage and EV-charging infrastructure, alongside improvements to the site’s electrical infrastructure. The modernised clean-energy system strengthens AUMA’s long-term energy resilience, increases savings and supports its wider sustainability commitments, while enabling the responsible reuse of its previous panels for humanitarian impact. For more technical details on the project, please see the AUMA clean energy case study.

Providing Lifeline Energy to Ukraine’s Rural Communities

Working in partnership with Ukraine Focus, a Washington DC–based humanitarian organisation, the panels will be installed at farms and homesteads vital to food production, as well as hospitals, disabled veterans’ homes and families who have lost loved ones. With Russia continuing to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, these donated panels provide a secure and reliable source of power for communities facing ongoing disruption.

“The solar panels donated to Ukraine will provide valuable energy where it’s needed most. As attacks on critical infrastructure continue, alternative power sources are essential to keeping food production, medical facilities and vital community services running. We’re proud to play a small role in helping Ukrainian families and frontline support networks maintain a degree of stability during an incredibly challenging time.” Russell Mees, Managing Director of SolarSense

AUMA’s Commitment to Sustainability and Social Impact

The donation forms part of the SolarSense charity programme and aligns with AUMA’s broader environmental and social responsibility efforts. As the company upgraded its on-site clean-energy system, it chose to work with SolarSense to ensure the outgoing panels could be reused for meaningful impact.

As well as supporting communities abroad, the initiative reflects AUMA’s commitment to a circular approach closer to home. By ensuring its previous solar equipment is repurposed rather than recycled prematurely, the company is extending the useful life of valuable technology, minimising waste and contributing to a more sustainable energy ecosystem. The partnership with SolarSense allows AUMA to demonstrate how responsible asset management can deliver both environmental and social value – providing a blueprint for other manufacturers upgrading older solar PV systems.

“We’re pleased to help out in this way and would urge other businesses to do the same. It’s a win-win for us. We’ve found the best home possible for the panels, and it allows us to get even more energy out of our new upgraded system, helping us reduce our energy costs even further in the future.” Colin Borrows, Head of UK Sales at AUMA Actuators

A Circular Approach With Local Reach and Global Benefits

SolarSense’s renewable energy donation programme enables businesses upgrading their solar PV systems to repurpose outgoing panels for humanitarian and community projects, reducing waste and supporting both local and international organisations in need.

“We are delighted with the support from SolarSense and its partners. Wars today are not just fought on the battlefields but involve disabling nationally significant infrastructure. The supply of solar panels will help rural communities maintain production of food for the frontline.” Brock Bierman, President and Chief Executive of Ukraine Focus

As a Certified B Corporation with a long-standing commitment to community support, SolarSense has delivered a wide range of charitable and social value projects since its founding in 1995. Previous international initiatives have included projects in remote regions such as Senegal, Uganda and India, where donated solar PV systems have created safer, more comfortable living environments for hospitals, clinics and orphanages.

Other recent charity initiatives have included providing repurposed solar panels from apetito to Paul’s Place, a charity supporting adults with physical, cognitive and sensory impairments in the South West of England – helping reduce their energy costs so more funding can go directly to their members and essential services.

“With over one hundred solar panels going on the roof, we’ll have more money to spend on the members, rather than building facilities. Prior to this, we were looking at electricity bills of £1,200 – £1,500 per month. When you put that across a year, that is a phenomenal amount of money we need to raise to just get us through. Having SolarSense and apetito come along and say that we can not only put solar panels on the roof, but provide the scaffolding, inverters and fire kill switches too – and make it all happen – it has an extraordinary impact for us as a very small charity.” Lynda Williams, CEO of Paul’s Place