We’re used to media overload in our lives, after all, most of us have immediate access to any information we want, right in our pockets and bags. This isn’t true of the entire world and in some places, radio is what keeps people informed. In South Sudan, one radio station went full solar power to make sure people could get the news.

Not having access to news and information is a big deal in the area that Mayardit FM, the station that has gone full solar power, resides in. South Sudan is beset by civil unrest so missing out a news broadcast may mean people miss information that can literally save their lives. The infrastructure isn’t great so previously the station was run on generators. When they broke down or ran out of fuel, there was no radio until repaired.

By switching over to full solar powered, they’re good until the sun goes out and then they’ve got back up batteries that will last for an additional 24 hours. After that, well if you’re in the South Sudan and there’s no sunlight after 24 hours than the world has bigger problems.