Team Member Name
Job Title
Innovation Competition - Decentralised Energy Solutions in Ethiopia
Paeradigms organises an innovation competition for students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and start-ups to develop business ideas addressing decentralised clean energy access in rural Ethiopia. The competition is held by the Ethiopian-German Energy Cooperation (implemented by GIZ)
Partner/Client
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Focus
Energy Innovation Entrepreneurship
Expertise
Project Management I Energy I Innovation I Education I Journalism
Location
Ethiopia
Funding
BMWi / Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Status
Ongoing
Link
CHALLENGE
_Ethiopia has abundant renewable energy resources and has the potential to generate over 60,000 megawatts (MW) of electric power from hydro, wind, solar and geothermal sources. As a result of Ethiopia’s rapid economic and population growth over the past years, the electricity demand has been steadily increasing.
_Despite Ethiopia’s vast energy potential and economic growth, more than 50% of the Ethiopian people still lack access to electricity, most of them living in rural areas.
_The country's National Electrification Plan (NEP 2.0) aims to achieve universal electricity access by the year 2025, 35% of which will be off-grid solutions.
APPROACH
_With Paeradigms support, ten finalists have been selected, who are currently preparing for the final stage of the competition.
_Innovative ideas range from a solar-powered charging station for rural schools, an integrated domestic energy unit to a mobile app-based market linkage service.
_Winners of the innovation competition will be selected in July 2021 and will receive support from GIZ in scaling up their business idea.
RESULTS
_To attain its objective of universal electricity access, the German-Ethiopian Energy Cooperation Programme has commissioned a team of Paeradigms experts to implement an Innovation Competition on Decentralised Energy Solutions in Ethiopia.
_The competition seeks innovative business ideas by Ethiopian students, researchers and entrepreneurs. Paeradigms services include project management support, coordinating an international expert jury, facilitating capacity development activities, as well as implementing a Young Journalists' Programme to enable broad outreach of the initiative.
PROJECT GALLERY
