Robert Freling | Executive Director
Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF)

Bob has served as Executive Director of the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) since 1997. Under his leadership, SELF has installed more than 650 solar energy systems in 25 countries, helping pioneer the use of decentralized renewable energy to support sustainable development in communities without access to electricity. A longtime advocate for energy access as a foundation for economic opportunity and climate resilience, Freling developed SELF’s Whole Village Development Model, which uses solar power to strengthen health care, education, food security, and local economies. Today his work focuses on combining decentralized clean energy with emerging technologies such as AI and IoT to help communities design intelligent systems for managing energy, food, and water. Freling holds a BA from Yale University and a Master’s degree from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. He received the King Hussein Leadership Award from Her Majesty Queen Noor at the Aspen Institute.