New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
Africa’s microgrid innovation champions
16/11/2022
6 min read
Feature
The 2022 Ashden Awards celebrate transformative climate change innovators and their clean tech solutions across the globe on the pathway to net zero in a just transition. New Energy World’s Brian Davis reports.
In the move towards a just transition for those communities and countries most impacted by climate change, the latest Ashden Award winners show how a new generation of climate champions ‘can rethink our approach to technology, community and inequality to tackle climate change’, according to musician Brian Eno at the recent awards ceremony.
A range of ground-breaking climate solutions was presented. The innovation was not simply a matter of introducing new technologies and services, but was also based on common diversity, equity and inclusion policies in developing communities and countries, particularly in Africa.
Energising refugee livelihoods
Kenya-based Kakuma Ventures won a coveted Ashden Award for bringing solar-powered internet access to residents in one of the world’s largest refugee camps. The business was founded by refugee Innocent Tshilombo and supports entrepreneurs across the Kakuma camp to set up and manage WiFi hotspots in their neighbourhoods.