GE-USADF Off-Grid Energy Challenge: Winners to emerge Nov. 21

NaijaAgroNet:

Following the recent closure of entries for the 2013 Off-Grid Energy Challenge by the General Electronics (GE) and the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), winners are set to emerge on November 21 in a ceremony in Lagos, NaijaAgroNet reports.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that the challenge was recently launched in Kenya and Nigeria thereby commencing the judging process in anticipation of the announcement of this year’s winners from both countries.

Investigations by NaijaAgroNet reveals that over the next three years, some 20 individuals and indigenous African companies who come up with innovative solutions that address the energy challenges of African communities and businesses stand a chance of winning up to USD 100,000 in grants to support their initiatives.

According to NaijaAgroNet searches, the judges are looking out for off-grid energy solutions that have created innovative approaches to metering, payment, collections, or transmission.

“They will also look out for entries that deliver sustainable energy to underserved marginal populations without degrading the environment,” a source told NaijaAgroNet.

The President and CEO, GE Africa, Jay Ireland expressed excitements that the Off-Grid Energy challenge is generating increased awareness about the plight of communities that are either underserved by the national grid or are not connected at all.

“We have no doubt that great solutions will emerge from this initiative, which will ultimately provide some insight to how to tackle some of the off-grid energy challenges in Africa” he said.

USADF President and CEO, Shari Berenbach said the initiative will help leverage more marginalized and underserved communities into positions where they could engage in and benefit from inclusive economic growth.

She noted that over the last 30 years, the USADF has championed initiatives that have contributed in catalyzing Africans out of poverty, stressing, “We are proud to be in partnership with GE on this initiative, which clearly resonates with everything that USADF stands for.”

NaijaAgroNet equally recollects that the Off-Grid Energy challenge is the initiative of global infrastructure giants, General Electric (GE) and the United States Africa Development Agency (USADF), which rides on the back of the Power Africa initiative announced by President Barack Obama during his recent visit to Africa.

The Power Africa initiative seeks to drive growth in Africa by increasing access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable power and by helping to ensure responsible, transparent and effective management of energy resources on the continent.

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Pix: Lazarus Angbazo, President/CEO General Electric, Nigeria