They will each receive a grant of $100,000 (Sh8.9 million) for initiating off-grid solutions that deploy renewable resources and power socio-economic activities/FILE
They will each receive a grant of $100,000 (Sh8.9 million) for initiating off-grid solutions that deploy renewable resources and power socio-economic activities.
They join a list of 22 winners from Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Tanzania who beat a field of nearly 300 entries and will also receive grants of $100,000 each.
The Off-Grid Challenge is part of Power Africa, a President Obama initiative to increase access to reliable, affordable, cleaner and more sustainable power in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Boma Safi’s winning entry was a proposal to use its tested distribution system to roll out five energy hubs in Kenya’s rural regions, aggregating sales and increasing the distribution of solar lanterns and efficient cookstove products.
Kitui Industries Limited is proposing a “small-scale industrial revolution” by using cotton seeds from local farmers to produce bio-diesel fuel which is then sold along with multipurpose engines at a discount to the surrounding community.
Pfoofy Power & Light Limited submitted a proposal to expand its innovative ‘Ecotran’ electric motorcycle, installing two ten-kilowatt service stations to charge 40 electric motorcycles for rural transportation hire in Kisumu County.
SCODE Limited’s project proposal utilises custom metering devices to sell solar home systems integrated with efficient micro-gas stoves on an affordable instalment plan to Kenyans in Embu, Meru, and Uasin Gishu counties.
Sollatek Electronics Kenya Limited submitted a proposal to install ‘solar centers’ with cold storage, phone/battery charging, and solar lantern rental capabilities in fifteen fishing villages along the Indian Ocean coast in partnership with local fishermen communities.
The challenge has been sponsored by General Electric (GE), United States Africa Development Foundation (USADF) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
