Sonnenglas · Johannesburg, since 2013

We make solar light that does everyone some good.

The Sonnenglas system

Welcome to the Solar System

The SOMO sits at the centre. Our worlds orbit around it.

At the centre

SOMO

One solar light, countless possibilities – it makes every Sonnenglas glow.

The light in the lid

Sun on top. Light below.

Solar cells, battery and light in one module – today’s SOMO fits every Sonnenglas back to the first one from 2013.

The SOMO

Two hands in a knitted jumper hold a glowing SOMO

Service

New light for your favourite jar

When the light fades, you swap only the module – with a $5 voucher.

The Upgrade programme
A man stands among many glowing Sun Jars hanging in a room with brick walls

Service

Light as a corporate gift

For the team and for clients – on request we ship to each address individually.

Corporate gifts

Artisan Edition

Finished by hand, in Africa

Beaded handles, threaded by hand, and mouth-blown Light Figures – craft that glows at night.

The editions

Hands hold a Sun Jar with a beaded handle in side light
An artisan in a red shirt works on a jar
Five Sun Jars with Light Figures and beaded handles in a shaft of sunlight

Made in Johannesburg

Made by hand. In Johannesburg.

Every Sonnenglas is built in our Fair-Trade-certified factory at Victoria Yards.

The factory Fair TradeOur story

A smiling woman holds a glowing Sonnenglas in both hands, above her the sign “Sonnenglas Solar Factory”
A smiling colleague with a colourful headwrap and a teal hoodie at the packing table
A smiling colleague in a white beanie and green gloves holds a cluster of round SOMO parts
Colleagues gather around a small robot arm on the workbench, one of them controls it at the screen

Gallery

Where Sonnenglas glows

Photo gallery 

Stories

Stories from the light

From Johannesburg and the road.

All stories 
  1. A child holds a glowing Sun Jar in front of their face
    Brand film The film Watch the film · 1:23
  2. Young cyclists line up with their road bikes in front of a house, a SOMO glowing on every handlebar
    October 2026 Riders of the Sun They meet to ride. We brought SOMOs. An evening about a light that adapts to whatever is needed — even when it's improvised.
  3. Evening in a South African township during a power outage, a child holding a solar light
    Story Our story From an idea against candles and paraffin lamps to a solar factory at Victoria Yards — told from Johannesburg.
  4. Camping at the lake, Sonnenglas lanterns in the evening light
    Story Into the open From candle replacement to a night by the lake: why our light belongs outdoors — and what it has to prove out there.
  5. Five Sun Jars in a shaft of sunlight on a wooden table, with Light Figures and beaded handles
    Story Why Sonnenglas? You can buy a solar lamp at the discount store for next to nothing. So why a Sonnenglas? Our honest answer.
  6. A group stands waist-deep in the sea at dusk, lit jars glowing in their hands
    November 2026 The light that was there: making our brand film Our brand film won a craft award for its direction at the IDIDTHAT Craft Awards. Friends of ours shot it on a journey through South Africa and eSwatini — with nothing but the light that was there.

As seen in

As of 1 November 2026 · Ratings from Amazon.de; Amazon marks verified purchases. We only show the numbers and do not check the ratings ourselves.

More than 20 international awards

Probably the most awarded solar light in the world

  • Red Dot 2025
  • iF Design Award 2025
  • iF Design Award 2023
  • German Design Award 2021
  • Fast Company 2019
  • Core77 Design Awards 2023
  • IDA Design Awards 2022
  • Golden Pin Design Award 2025
  • Good Design Award (Japan) 2024
  • NY Product Design Awards 2024
  • BIG SEE Product Design 2023
  • AIDA 2026
  • Social Products Award (Japan) 2024
  • Green Product Award 2020
  • Red Dot 2019
  • Good Design Award (Japan) 2019

See all awards

Stay in the light

News from the Sonnenglas Solar System — a few times a year, honest and short.

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