What is the ZOLA iNTELLIGENCE Project?
Empowering energy providers to create thriving, electrified communities — that’s the heart of the ZOLA iNTELLIGENCE platform. It’s built on the belief that everyone deserves reliable, affordable, and clean energy. Traditional Last Mile Energy Providers often focus on hardware-centric solutions that are costly, unreliable, and harmful to the environment. This leaves billions without the power they truly need. ZOLA iNTELLIGENCE flips the script by asserting that true energy access requires intelligence, not just hardware. It’s an end-to-end solution that goes beyond selling solar products, building foundational infrastructure that enables connectivity, education, and economic growth.
Main Benefits and Key Facts
The platform uses artificial intelligence to optimize the core energy network while providing software that empowers local teams to manage operations, delivery, financing, and maintenance. Here’s a quick snapshot of the impact:
- 500k+ installations deployed
- 3 million people with clean, reliable energy
- 10+ countries served across 4 continents
- 10+ years of hands-on experience
Addressing the Core Challenges
The ZOLA iNTELLIGENCE platform tackles some pretty big hurdles faced by last mile energy businesses. Growth and scale are limited when relying on basic hardware — it restricts the markets and customers that can be served. Operational efficiency suffers due to manual processes and a lack of automation. Sustainability takes a hit because high costs of sales and service eat into profitability. And financeability? Many businesses struggle to secure funding from financial institutions. ZOLA iNTELLIGENCE is designed to overcome these exact challenges.
How ZOLA iNTELLIGENCE Drives Operational Excellence
By integrating AI-driven optimization with user-friendly software, the platform streamlines operations from installation to maintenance. Local teams get the tools they need to manage everything efficiently — no more guesswork or tedious manual tracking. This means faster service, happier customers, and a business that can scale sustainably. It’s about making the complex simple and the impossible possible.
The Power of Distributed Renewable Energy
Distributed renewable energy is revolutionizing how people access power — much like how mobile phones changed communication forever. ZOLA Electric’s smart storage and solar power systems make it possible for homes and businesses anywhere to generate, store, and consume energy sustainably. Designed in California and deployed across Africa, these solutions deliver clean, affordable, and reliable 24-hour power. It’s not just about energy; it’s about democratizing access and creating new opportunities.
Project Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
Real-World Success: The ZOLAi Effect
Take Off-Grid Electric in Tanzania, for example — now the country’s leading independent energy service provider, second only to the national grid. Powered by the ZOLA iNTELLIGENCE platform, they’ve transformed the lives of over 2 million people by bringing power to businesses, healthcare facilities, and schools. Their work earned them the Best Solar Africa Company of the Year and the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan award. By simplifying the customer experience from installation to upgrades, they’ve boosted revenue and operational efficiency. This is the ZOLAi Effect in action — innovation transforming lives and communities with intelligent infrastructure designed to scale and evolve.
