Our Mission
Soluz works to advance the global transition to sustainable energy, with a special commitment to increasing access to electricity using solar photovoltaic (PV) technology.
Triple Impact
Soluz Honduras, founded in January 1994, is a Triple Impact company advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. We are committed to providing solar energy solutions to sectors of society that lack access to electricity, while also contributing to climate change mitigation.
Our Management Team
Richard Hansen
Senior Consultant and President of both Soluz, Inc & Soluz Honduras
Richard founded Soluz Inc. in Massachusetts in 1993 and established Soluz Honduras in 1994 to expand rural electrification through solar PV technology. A pioneer in combining solar energy with micro-finance, he introduced PV technology in Honduras in 1989 through a U.S. Department of Energy project. He has advised major institutions including USAID, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank across multiple countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and has been an invited speaker internationally. Richard holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from Boston University.
Paola Rodriguez
General Manager of Soluz Honduras
Paola is a Logistics Management Engineer, graduated from University of CEUTEC in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Over the past five years, Paola has established her career in the field of sustainable energy with a focus on operational efficency and innovation at Soluz Honduras. Her work focuses on advancing Sustainable Development Goal 7.1 by creating operations that serve the most remote Honduran households with a range of off-grid photovoltaic products given with microfinance services.
Isabel Chavez
Customer Credit Manager of Soluz Honduras
Como Gerente de Crédito de Soluz Honduras, Isabel es responsable de organizar, dirigir, controlar y monitorear las operaciones relacionadas con la provisión de Microfinanzas para productos y sistemas solares. Isabel ha venido a aportar a Soluz Honduras más de 15 años de experiencia laboral en varias instituciones micro financieras en Honduras.
Enrique Maldonado
Photovoltaic Systems Engineer of Soluz Honduras
He is responsible for the company's photovoltaic projects, ensuring their optimal design and installation. He also oversees the management of processes related to project legalization with the National Electricity and Energy Administration (ENEE). He studied at the National Autonomous University of Honduras, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Industrial Electrical Engineering.
Ribelino Pastrana
Gerente de Finanzas y Contador General de Soluz Honduras
Ribelino has more than 20 years of experience in accounting and is responsible for the company’s accounting and financial management, ensuring tax compliance and the proper implementation of internal controls. He holds a degree in Public Accounting and Finance from the National Autonomous University of Honduras in the Sula Valley.
Our team is the driving force behind every project.
Meet our Board of Advisors
Dr. Carolina Barreto
Dr. Carolina Barreto is an energy access leader with 20 years of experience in renewable energy, rural electrification, and clean cooking projects across 20+ countries. She has led multidisciplinary teams and advised governments, financial institutions, private companies, and international organizations on strategy, finance, and energy access initiatives. She holds degrees in Agricultural Engineering, Solar Energy, and Energy Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and is fluent in French and Spanish.
Luis Alegria
Luis is an engineer and renewable energy advocate with nearly 20 years of experience in the solar PV industry. He currently serves as Director of Solar PV Development Engineering at Ameresco, where he manages the development of commercial solar projects including rooftops, carports, and large ground-mounted PV systems.
Earlier in his career, Luis worked on rural solar electrification projects in Honduras, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and the Philippines while working with Soluz, Inc. He holds degrees in Electrical Engineering and Solar Energy Engineering from Universidad del Valle and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Nancy Brennan - Jordan
Nancy Jordan brings over 33 years of experience as a Family Nurse Practitioner and healthcare leader, with deep expertise in diabetes management, program development, and quality improvement. As Co-Founder of Let’s Share the Sun, she has been instrumental in advancing its mission, and now steps into the role of Executive Director to lead the organization’s continued growth and impact through strong partnerships and community-centered initiatives.
Oscar Aguilar
Oscar coordinates with the electric utility and government energy agencies in Honduras while providing engineering services for grid-tied PV projects. With more than 30 years of experience in the electrical sector, he has worked with ENEE and NRECA on rural electrification initiatives, and has consulted for organizations including the World Bank, USAID, and UNDP. Oscar holds an electrical engineering degree from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras and a master’s degree in power engineering from the University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Richenda Van Leeuwen
Richenda is the Executive Director of the Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI), which runs a national Fellowship in the U.S. clean energy sector. Previously, she spent four years with the Aspen Institute as Executive Director of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs, leading a large global team and program focused on small business development, bringing in a climate lens, where she led Aspen’s delegations to COP climate conferences.
Richenda was a member for three years of the World Bank's Energy Program's (ESMAP) expert Technical Advisory Group from 2016-2019, providing strategic input to their donor governments and management. She previously co-chaired a World Bank Expert Group on Scaling Renewable Energy Solutions (SREP).
From 2010-2016 Richenda was Executive Director of Energy and Climate at the United Nations Foundation, working with the U.S and other governments and at the highest levels of the UN system in developing the UN Sustainable Energy for All Initiative.
Richenda has many years of Executive Management experience globally and in the U.S. in the private sector and with non-profits. She led an emerging markets team investing in global renewable energy solutions in private equity and impact investing with Good Energies and helped establish the Good Energies Foundation.. She now serves on the governing or advisory boards of several companies and non-profits and has received domestic and global awards for her global work in clean energy.
Rob Pratt
Rob has been a leader in clean energy for more than 40 years as an entrepreneur, funder, and policy advocate. He is the founder and Chairman of GreenerU, a company helping colleges and universities reduce energy costs and advance sustainability goals. He also founded Energia Global International, one of Central America’s leading renewable energy companies.
Throughout his career, Rob has held leadership roles in major clean energy organizations and foundations focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate initiatives. He holds degrees from Harvard University, Georgetown University, and Wesleyan University.