Despite the increased capacity of electricity in Kenya which largely comes from hydropower, it still remains as an unsustainable source of energy due to unpredictable weather patterns, its huge demand and the looming fact that climate change is more prevalent than ever.
Thus this brings about the obvious question; why don’t we invest more in renewable energy?
According to the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre, Kenya is endowed with high solar
insulation averaging at 4.5kWh/m2/day and with the enormous advantage of the country being in the equator, Kenya has
a higher potential of solar PV than many
other nations. National energy security as
well as the promotion of entrepreneurship
and clean energy connectivity are not a thing of the future; they’re already here with us.
Everyday represents a potential opportunity and a big challenge for Africa and its socio economic development, and it is such circumstances that can be solved by the diffusion of a number of smart or clean innovations like the ones shortlisted by the International Ashden Awards.
In 2018, twelve cutting edge organisations working on the frontline of sustainable energy in the fields of health, cities and buildings, finance, energy access, mobility and powering business have been shortlisted for the 2018 International Ashden Awards.
The Ashden Awards are a globally recognised measure of excellence in the field of sustainable energy and winners receive tailored support to help scale up their work and a prize of up to £20,000.
“The Ashden Awards are in their 18th year and I never fail to beenormously impressed and inspired by the way people around the globe are embracing the very latest technical advances and trends in a bid to bring clean energy to all. This year’s shortlisted organisations are an incredibly exciting group, each helping us in different ways to transition to a low carbon world that brings huge environmental, health and economic benefits,” said Sarah Butler Sloss, Ashden’s Founder Director.
The shortlisted organisations for the 2018 International Ashden Awards are:
Angaza, whose expertise in integrating Pay As You Go technology with clean
energy products is helping manufacturers and distributors to make sustainable solutions affordable to the world’s one billion off-grid customers.
Association la Voûte Nubienne, a charity working in West Africa to increase use of the Nubian Vault building technique which is both environmentally friendly and sustainable as it uses pure earth with no
need for timber.
Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency, a wonderful
example of a state energy agency and rural health agency joining forces to
install and maintain solar PV systems in almost 900 health centres in eastern India.
Also in India, Ecozen Solutions specialises in portable solar cold rooms
which have thermal energy storage and are designed to work even in low sunlight. The farmers using the cold rooms usually break even after two years and have seen as much as a 40% increase in their profits.
KopaGas has developed the world’s first smart liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
meter designed to remove barriers to clean cooking in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The technology enables medium and low-income households to switch from
dirty and expensive charcoal to much cleaner LPG.
In East Africa, Lean Energy Solutions manufactures briquettes using
agricultural waste to power boilers in factories producing consumer goods.
Boilers using briquettes are cheaper to run and have a lower carbon
footprint than diesel-fired boilers.
Lumos Global is the largest provider of off-grid solar in Nigeria, offering homes and small businesses a simple, affordable way to pay for solar energy in small instalments. The company is currently prioritising the marginalised Niger Delta region and partnering with the largest mobile network operator in the country.
MASS Design Group are at the forefront of Africa’s homegrown architecture
movement and design innovative buildings, using local materials, that promote health and dignity as well as sharing their knowledge and approach with the next generation of architects.
Power for All is working with the public and private sector to deliver access to energy to the 1.1 billion people in rural Sub-Saharan Africa without reliable power. They focus on encouraging investment in, and
promoting, decentralised renewables as part of energy policy, building
sustainable markets and encouraging consumers to use renewable power.
Safetipin has developed a mobile app to encourage the uptake of cycling,
walking and public transport in 35 cities across ten countries. The app
was designed to address the safety of women in particular and the data
collected helps customers to get home safely and the relevant local
authorities to make planning improvements.
Shuttl, a company that crowd sources demand for, and creates, bus routes
in Indian cities, especially along commuter routes, providing some 35,000
journeys a day. Using their app, customers can view timetables, track
buses in real time and book seats.
The Sure Chill Company, working in 46 countries, uses cooling technology
in solar powered medical fridges which are ideal for use in off-grid and
emergency settings. No battery is required and the fridges only need four hours’ electricity a day to be able to maintain a safe temperature.
The shortlisted organisations are now undergoing a rigorous judging
process involving a panel of industry experts and technical assessments.
The overall winners will be presented with their Award at a prestigious
ceremony at the Royal Geographical Society in London on Thursday 14 June.