(EnergyAsia, May 16, Friday) — Last week in Ghana, 52 short-listed finalists of the international Lighting Africa competition were assessed by an international juror panel who selected 16 finalists.
Each finalist will receive up to $200,000 in seed funding to develop and implement their ideas, for a total of $3 million.
Marianne Osterkorn, international director of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) based in Vienna, was one of 20 jurors involved in assessing the finalist proposals.
The Development Marketplace competition was part of a broader Lighting Africa 2008 conference held in Accra from May 5 to 8. Also in attendance and serving as a speaker was Alfred Ofosu Ahenkorah, a member of REEEP’s governing board and executive secretary Ghanaian Energy Commission.
After receiving over 400 proposals on innovative solutions for off-grid lighting for Africa from 54 countries, including 38 African countries, the Development Marketplace’s team of international assessors selected 52 projects that competed for the winning titles.
“Selecting the finalists was not an easy task,” said Dr Osterkorn. “We were very impressed with all the projects submitted to develop improved lighting products and services for low income households in Sub-Saharan Africa and they all offered sound business opportunities.”
Dr Ahenkorah commented that the winning projects would have major health benefits for the African continent.
“All projects selected will have direct impact on the lives of Africans including improved lighting quality for households, improved health impacts from higher quality lanterns and increased school retention and improved grades,” he said.
Anil Cabraal, lead energy specialist at the World Bank and one of the directors of the ‘Lighting Africa’ programme noted that “this was the first global business conference for off-grid lighting. It brought together over 400 participants from around the world to support the private sector in the innovation and delivery off-grid lighting products and solutions for Africa.
“These activities are aimed at accelerating access to non-fossil fuel-based, low cost, safe, clean and reliable lighting products with associated basic energy services.”
The Development Marketplace has been a key component of the ‘Lighting Africa’ programme and 2008 business conference. REEEP has been a key strategic partner in this effort.
Attending the ‘Lighting Africa 2008’ global conference were representatives from the lighting industry, international financial institutions, the private sector, government agencies, academia, and non-governmental organisations.
The Lighting Africa Development Marketplace Competition was funded by REEEP, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), the World Bank, the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), Good Energies, and the Governments of Netherlands and Norway.