Creating Impact Beyond Renewable Energy: A Joint Perspective from EKOenergy and Mt. Stonegate

EKOenergy is a non-profit ecolabel for renewable electricity and gas, recognized internationally for its sustainability criteria and added value. When consumers decide to purchase EKOenergy-labeled Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs), a minimum of 0.10 per MWh sold will go directly into the EKOenergy Climate Fund.

This fund will be allocated to support renewable energy projects in developing regions, especially in places with a lack of access to clean and reliable power. The goals of this initiative are not only to contribute to global decarbonization but also to ensure energy access for all. This Climate Fund has already covered several projects, such as the Support the Energy House project in Madagascar, Expanding Solar Access in Malawi, and is currently funding a Solar Mini-Grid installation project in Pitas Laut, Sabah, Malaysia.

(L-R) Picture 1 and 2 Expanding Solar Access in Malawi | Credits: Solar Aid/Kondwani Jere, Picture 3. Energy Solar Access in Madagascar | Credits: GRET

Pitas Laut: Electricity scarcity impacts people, the planet, and livelihoods

Pitas Laut is a small fishing village located in Sabah, Malaysia, home to 117 indigenous Suluk people. Despite being rich in natural resources, the village is not connected to the regional energy grid and relies on individual petrol generators that provide electricity for just 4-6 hours a day. These generators not only consume up to 40% of an average household’s income, but also pose serious health and environmental risks due to air pollution. 

Picture 4. Malaysia Wetlands | Credits: Green Empowerment & Tonibung

The lack of reliable, affordable electricity is not just about comfort or convenience - it affects people, the planet, and local livelihoods.

• People: Limited access to electricity affects daily life and long-term well-being.

“From my recent visit, the house that we stayed in only had power from 6:00pm – 8:00pm because the family was trying to save the cost of fuel. This family has 4 children.” - Leona Wai, Green Empowerment’s Malaysia Coordinator

• Planet: Petrol generators emit harmful pollutants that affect human health and accelerate climate change. Additionally, the handling and storage of diesel fuel carry the risks of spills, which can contaminate soil and water sources.

• Economy: Without a sustainable and affordable source of energy for cold storage, fishermen are forced to sell their catch quickly at lower prices or pay a premium price for ice, which often traps them in cycles of debt. 

Building sustainable, community-led resilience

In 2024, EKOenergy’s Climate Fund granted €60,000 to Green Empowerment’s initiative - carried out in collaboration with two partner NGOs, TONIBUNG and Forever Sabah - to install a 35kW solar PV mini-grid system, aiming to provide 24-hour electricity to the community. As with all Climate Fund projects funded by EKOenergy, Pitas Laut project focuses on long-term, community-driven impact.

• System Installation: While solar panel installations in urban settings may take only 2–3 months, remote areas like Pitas Laut face logistical challenges that extend the timeline to around eight months. The village is only accessible by boat, so all PV panels were resized to fit the small boats that can navigate narrow streams. Transport schedules must also account for monsoon disruptions.

• Community Engagement: Long-term self-sufficiency is a key element of every project funded by EKOenergy’s Climate Fund. The Community Association of Pitas Laut is involved throughout the project - from design to implementation.

• Capacity Building: Besides strong commitment, community members need the right skills to take full ownership of the new energy system. Community-based operators are trained to learn every component of the system so that they are able to maintain, repair and replace parts. In addition, to ensure good governance and sustainability, an Energy Committee is elected and established with project partners’ guidance. This group will manage the system, set up tariffs, and oversee how tariff revenues are used for upkeep, salaries, and upgrades. The project also provides entrepreneurial training to help villagers explore new income opportunities like selling ice and cold drinks.

Picture 5. Solar PV Installation in Malaysia | Credits: Green Empowerment & Tonibung

“With [electricity from] solar PV,  we can make [frozen] packaged products from fisheries and sell it in the city at premium prices. This will help our local economy.” - Sahadan Pullah, 29 years old fisherman in Pitas Laut with three children.

• Women’s Empowerment: Through this project, women-led groups are receiving training in sustainability, financial planning, and practical digital tools like PowerPoint and Canva - skills that open up new possibilities for families and the community.

• Nature Resource Management: Located in Segama Wetlands, Pitas Laut is home to endangered species like marine turtles. Solar-powered lighting will support local women in monitoring turtle and terrapin populations as part of ongoing conservation efforts.

Translating ecolabel contributions into lasting, scalable impact 

The Climate Fund is one of EKOenergy’s most visible works where label contributions are directly translated into tangible actions in low- and middle-income countries.

In Pitas Laut, the project addresses numerous Sustainable Development Goals, particularly good health and well-being, gender equality, clean energy access, climate action, economic opportunity, and marine conservation. 

Pitas Laut is just one of the 206 villages in the Sabah Rural Electrification Renewable Energy (RE2) Roadmap, a 10-year action plan to achieve 100% energy access across Sabah, Malaysia. The learning and success of this project will guide similar initiatives throughout the region - efforts to which EKOenergy has committed an additional €1.4 million in funding for the period 2025-2028. 

To date, EKOenergy has granted over €10 million in such impact projects worldwide, driven by a firm belief that energy transition only works if no one is left behind.

As a company that deeply involved in environmental impact and energy transitions, Mt. Stonegate believes that the true meaning of sustainability is goes beyond emission reduction, but also uplifts communities, protecting biodiversity, and building a long-term environmental resilience.

Mt. Stonegate Point of View

Through this lens of view, the value of Pitas Laut Projects becomes powerfully evident. Supporting the installation of solar-mini grid and building local capacity for its management, will enable a long-term energy independence, while also promoting economic opportunities for the livelihood. Access to reliable energy has a direct impact on local economic activities, which help residents work toward a lasting prosperity.

In terms of additionality, EKOenergy’s Climate Fund stands out as a credible mechanism that delivers a measurable impacts beyond the purchase of renewable energy itself. This model of additional benefits is one of the reasons why RE100 recommends it in its Technical Criteria, which emphasize that corporate renewable energy procurement should contribute to additional generation capacity and environmental impact.

As Asia accelerates its shift to renewables, companies are expected to go beyond just reducing emissions. There is growing pressure to create a meaningful social and environmental impact. Purchasing Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) is one of the way to achieve that. As an example, Microsoft also has supported EKOenergy-labeled EACs to back clean energy access projects such as off-grid solar refrigeration in Kenya, which helps improve clean water access and cold storage for local fishers.

At Mt.Stonegate, we see EACs not just as a compliance instrument, but as a catalyst for meaningful change. When paired with a trusted ecolabels like EKOenergy, it becomes a direct investment in impact. Each EKOenergy certificate purchased represents a commitment to positive change, as seen in the Pitas Laut Project.

At Mt. Stonegate, we are proud to support solutions like this, and we are here to help businesses take that next step. Because choosing EACs with an ecolabel doesn’t just tick a box, but sets something better in motion.