In Colombia, 3 percent of the population does not have access to electricity (as of 2021). That’s approximately 1,5 million people - mostly in rural and Indigenous communities - who live without access to electricity. This lack of energy not only leaves homes in darkness but also hinders education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, creating a significant barrier to progress in some of the country’s most vulnerable areas. At the same time, the rapid expansion of electric mobility presents a new environmental challenge: what to do with lithium-ion batteries once they are no longer fit for vehicles.

Seeing an opportunity to address these urgent issues, our project BATx, a Colombian startup led by young entrepreneurs, is turning environmental problems into solutions. Through a specialized lithium-ion battery diagnosis and reuse methodology, we breathe new life into discarded electric vehicle batteries, converting them into storage systems for renewable energy. These second-life batteries are designed to power solar energy systems, advancing the energy transition while reducing waste.

BATx aims to  bring clean, reliable energy to Colombia’s most underserved communities. By piloting our second-life batteries in off-grid indigenous schools, we are demonstrating  that innovative, sustainable energy technologies can empower people, transform lives, and power inclusive development for generations to come, ensuring that no one is left behind.  

Being awarded funding by the Youth4Climate (Y4C) initiative was an exciting first step in turning our project into reality. After the 2023 Y4C flagship event in Rome, we quickly moved into action, planning and executing the project. With support from Y4C, we installed a 40 kWh energy system that now benefits over 400 people in an indigenous community, providing reliable energy to improve education, healthcare, and cultural activities and foster long-term sustainable development and resilience. Furthermore, the recognition from UNDP and the Italian government sparked significant interest in BATx, attracting support from various companies eager to collaborate on this initiative. We decided to partner with Fundación Socya, a consultancy firm specialised in environmental social responsibility (ESR) and project management. Socya provided insights on community-centered dialogue and impact delivery. Most importantly, it had an ongoing program in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region, working with native communities on environmental and cultural preservation in partnership with the local NGO, Nikuma. This connection was key to understanding the local context and gaining the community’s trust. It also ensured our energy solution was aligned with their values, allowing us to effectively bring clean, reliable energy to one of Colombia’s most underserved communities.

Together, we developed a matrix to evaluate different candidate indigenous towns and determine the best location for the project. We based our decision on criteria such as the number of beneficiaries, availability of key infrastructure that would serve as installation points (education, health, etc.), proximity to roads (for logistics), and existing energy generation systems. The town of Katanzama, home to the Arhuaco indigenous people, was selected. It is a hub for both traditional and modern education, with a boarding school that allows children to avoid the 10-12 hour walk to attend classes. It is also an important cultural and religious site where acolytes of Mamu (spiritual leaders) come to learn. For several years, Socya and Nikuma have worked closely with the Katanzama community on environmental education and waste management programs, building the trust and cooperation necessary to propose the project.