30 clean energy startups were selected to receive funding of either US$150,000 for their concepts or US$450,000 for their prototypes.

Oakland, CA 11 May 2022 – The California Sustainable Energy Entrepreneur Development (CalSEED) program is thrilled to announce that two new cohorts of Concept and Prototype awards have been approved by the California Energy Commission (CEC).

For the Concept award, 23 companies out of 166 were selected to receive grants of US$150,000 each. For the Prototype award, 7 companies out of 22 were selected to receive another $450,000 to continue to develop their breakthrough technologies. In total US$6.6M of CEC EPIC funds will be invested in clean energy innovations throughout California.

“We are grateful to the CEC’s visionary leadership and partnership in supporting early-stage energy innovators with critical and timely funding,” said Denise Rushing, Managing Director of California, New Energy Nexus. “The 30 companies gaveled in today represent the diversity of California and our state’s mission to prioritize energy solutions that accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy for everyone.”

Concept awardees went through a rigorous process including a review with CalSEED’s curated review committee, who volunteered their time and expertise to select the most promising clean energy technologies of the future. CalSEED’s solicitation is designed as a call for early-stage clean energy innovations that fall within the following technology areas: energy efficiency, load modifying, energy storage, grid enhancements, renewable energy, electric vehicle charging and powertrain technologies, advanced technologies that enable
water savings.

CalSEED’s success is in supporting the best and boldest clean energy innovations while advancing equity and driving gender diversity into our programming.

“I am proud to say that the 30 companies selected today represent women and other diverse leaders amongst their CEOs, with at least 5 of the 23 concept awardees having women founders and/or women in leadership positions,” said Sarah Chester, Director of Grants Compliance, CalSEED. “This number is super impressive given the national average is that less than 2% of all tech startups have women founders nationwide. I am thrilled to begin working with these change makers who will be instrumental in advancing California’s transition to a clean energy future.”

While soliciting for CalSEED’s 5th Concept award cohort, the team also coordinated with Cleantech Open (CTO) to oversee the annual business plan competition. Eligible CalSEED Concept Awardees from cohort 3 and 4 participated in CTO’s accelerator program, where they receive tools and insights to develop a business plan that becomes the basis of the competition’s application package. The panel of judges was comprised of 19 members of the CalSEED Review Committee, representing expertise in start- ups, experience with industry-specific commercialization, and the ability to evaluate social and environmental impacts. The selected companies are focusing their efforts on solutions for batteries, storage, energy efficiency and renewable generation – areas that are critical to meeting California’s climate goals.

“CalSEED has provided entrepreneurs with the funds and resources they need to explore their innovative concepts,” said Josh Croft, Energy Deployment and Market Facilitation Officer of the CEC. “It’s exciting to imagine what the future of energy will be and how Californians will be a part of it.”

CalSEED is funded through the CEC’s EPIC program, which invests approximately US$120 million annually for innovative clean energy technologies and approaches benefiting the ratepayers of California’s three largest electric investor-owned utilities.

Details of the 23 companies awarded a total of US$3.45 million:

COHORT 5 CONCEPT AWARDEES

Aepnus Technology is developing an electrochemical technology platform that can convert lithium extracted from domestic ore and brine deposits into industrially relevant salts (e.g., for use in electric vehicles) using electricity instead of carbon-intensive reagent chemicals.

Aeromutable Corporation is developing a controller and sensor integration that will provide continuously optimized aerodynamic performance of heavy vehicles, reducing energy consumption, and improving safety for the trucking industry while increasing their profitability through improved electric tractor range.

Ariya is developing a low-cost battery for stationary energy storage using a solid-state polymer electrolyte that it has high ionic conductivity, enables the use of sodium (rather than the more expensive lithium), and simplifies manufacturing.

Benchmark Labs, Inc. is developing a forecasting system that will provide hourly and daily forecasts of evapotranspiration, temperature, and relative humidity so farm managers can make better-informed decisions regarding water and energy management at their specific locations of interest.

Climformatics Inc. is building a robust, localized climate and weather predictive tool for localized fire-weather forecasting that will help to predict, prepare, and protect the energy grid infrastructure, utilities, and consumers from future wildfires well ahead of time.

Community Energy Labs is developing a low-cost grid-interactive building control platform that autonomously optimizes energy, pricing, and comfort, without placing undue burden on controls professionals or building operators of K-12, municipal and small to mid-sized buildings to set up or maintain.

DarmokTech is developing a cell and packaging design to make solid-state batteries a viable replacement for conventional Li-ion technology for EVs and short-duration storage, with a design that could improve cycle-life, automate disassembly of cells for low-cost Direct Recycling, and reduce manufacturing steps and costs.

Discrete Lattice Industries LLC is developing a modular construction system for cellular building systems which offer significant cost and material savings through mass production and automation, while offering novel combinations of performance and sustainability.

Electric Fish is building a containerized-microgrid, integrating EV chargers with mini grid-scale batteries that can be charged at high-renewable-energy hours of the day to store clean energy – a single module that can support ultrafast charging but acts as a resource, rather than a liability for the grid.

Horizon PV Inc. is developing semitransparent organic solar panels for building-integrated photovoltaics that are flexible, can be laminated to glass surfaces or on walls, and will be capable of generating clean renewable electricity from solar windows in buildings and vehicles.

Kepler Energy Systems is building KE2, an energy storage and management pod that will control the collection, storage, and release of solar, wind, and grid energy onto private and public utility grids, creating grid resilience and safe resource dispatchability.

KorganoTech is developing an affordable filter that improves HVAC efficiency and kills airborne pathogens. It will be a highly effective air-filtration system that consumes less energy compared to other air-purification technologies that are being applied to combat spread of pathogens.

kWh Bot is engineering autonomous robotic EV chargers that will deliver charge to EVs automatically at any parking spot in the service area using Segway and NVidia tech that will navigate batteries to EVs, charge the vehicle, and later return the battery to the station.

Modilium is building a modular thermo-electric refrigeration unit with Peltier coolers which will be individually activated, depending on the total cooling needs, and thus enhancing energy efficiency, can be powered by renewable energy and is free from harmful refrigerant chemicals, while using water as the heat transfer fluid.

OmniFlow is developing a water and energy-saving irrigation device with superb anti clogging abilities and a lower cost advantage that will enable crop irrigation without the requirement of clean water or electricity, potentially making irrigation and reforestation in wildfire/drought ravaged areas easier with minimum labor.

Perch Sensing is building a distributed real-time monitoring and control system of low-cost distributed sensors that are “perched” upon utility infrastructures that will help utilities predict and prevent potential utility-based ignition events, more efficiently manage power flow during shutoffs, and increase the integration of micro-grids and distributed energy storage.

RCAM Technologies is developing 3D concrete printed Marine Pumped Hydroelectric Storage (MPH) pods that can integrate with California’s floating offshore wind farms to create offshore renewable hybrid energy systems.

HyVerde, LLC is designing a Hybrid Battery Management system that can be integrated in an electric vehicle to enable the combination of multiple types of battery chemistries and reduce temperature and charge variations across a battery, simultaneously equalizing battery capacity and temperature while also enabling hybridization with additional storage systems.

Rivieh, Inc. is building a smart building energy management system for residential buildings that will integrate a new sensor technology, millimeter-wave radar, within the form factor of light switches, which will allow a distributed autonomous controller to manage most of a building’s loads using existing infrastructure and without adding additional complexity or cost.

Solarflux Energy Technologies, Inc. is developing a solar thermal energy powered water desalination and purification system, which is a membrane distillation module optimized for use with a cost-effective solar thermal concentrator, providing a resilient, low-cost, zero-emission solution to water treatment for agriculture, industrial and municipal applications.

Summation Lab is developing a multi-stage gasifier system that transforms low-grade biomass, like wood chips and almond shells with high fines and moisture content, to renewable energy in the form of a fuel gas (syngas) and electricity that will help forestry, agricultural, industrial, and municipal entities manage their excess biomass more efficiently, improve access to renewable energy, and reduce GHG emissions.

TECSI Solar Inc. is developing Arcadia-SR, a solar panel for asphalt shingle roofs that integrates racking, flashing, hardware, and power electronics to a single SKU, installed using a single tool, removing variability in installation costs associated with array and roof complexity, resulting in solar installers spending less time training and get more installations done in a day.

Tyfast is developing a long lasting, solid-state battery cell with a novel anode material that allows for ultrafast charging without sacrificing safety and energy density, with the potential to enable full vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration, ensure grid stability with the massive EV transition, increase renewables penetration, create new V2G business models, and lower the cost of EV ownership.

Details of the 7 companies awarded a total of US$3.15 million:

COHORT 4 PROTOTYPE AWARDEES

ALD Technical Solutions is developing a lightweight, long-lasting, and cost-effective structural composite reinforcement system which will be wrapped around existing transmission lines to increase power capacity, extend lifespan, decrease sag, and improve reliability and resiliency of grid infrastructure with NO downtime and minimal capital investment. The Composite WiRe WrapTM is a lightweight, high strength, long lasting, cost-effective composite reinforcement system, which withstands high temperature. The product can be installed fast and easily by our innovative robotic technology system and cured in-place around existing power lines.

Gridware is demonstrating a system of low-cost, solar-powered, sensor platforms, deployed across a distribution grid to provide real-time monitoring and fault anticipation. Gridware’s solution is centered around mechanical sensing that characterizes and monitors the behavior of the electric distribution system, as opposed to the traditional electrical monitoring that is currently employed by utilities. Mechanical monitoring can reveal weakening of the system as it ages, identify components that have loading beyond normal conditions, and indicate precursors to critical failures. This innovation aims to reduce the number of fault-induced wildfires as well as reduce the frequency and duration of outages and PSPSs.

Hago Energetics is going to demonstrate a technology that uses renewable energy to convert agricultural waste to green hydrogen for the transportation sector. This technology works by processing biogas generated from the manure waste into a novel chemical reactor that effects the conversion to hydrogen. It does not use massive amounts of electricity or natural gas to create green hydrogen and uses agricultural waste as raw material, so more carbon is taken out of the atmosphere than is produced by the process.

Leap Photovoltaics is developing a process to manufacture crystalline silicon solar cells without wafers. This additive manufacturing approach directly deposits a layer of silicon microparticles to a surface that absorb sunlight and convert it to electricity, achieving the same performance and reliability as traditional solar cells at half the cost using entirely local supply chains. This unique combination leaps the barriers of thin margins and supply chain disruptions and enables sustainable growth of solar manufacturing. Furthermore, this additive manufacturing process makes direct integration of solar energy generation with new products like vehicles and roofing materials easier, opening new markets for solar energy.

Parthian Energy is developing a new class of advanced battery sensors, with applications in quality control at manufacturing, ultrafast charging during operation, and evaluating second life capabilities. The Parthian Electromagnetic Sensor, or PES detects internal defects in lithium-ion battery cells, either during manufacturing or during operation, by evaluating the change in the battery’s electromagnetic signature. This reduces unnecessary scrap, enhances safety, and enables higher energy density cells to be deployed into EVs and Grid Storage with much less risk of thermal runaway. PES also provides cell makers with dramatic reductions in work-in process inventory, working capital costs, and facility costs. In addition, PES provides faster and lower cost battery Q.C., which drives shorter design cycles and faster time-to market.

RePurpose is developing a system that tests, reassembles, and redeploys used electric vehicle batteries to store solar energy, creating create lower-cost, more sustainable energy storage systems. The process begins by precisely measuring EV battery health in <90 seconds using machine learning. Then battery reassembly is optimized into new circuits to maximize safety, efficiency, and longevity. Finally, the batteries are equipped with proprietary controls and fire suppression systems. This allows for repurposing used EV batteries safely for 7-10 years in “second-life” energy storage systems at around half the cost of new battery alternatives.

Tolo Inc. is building a remote inspection platform for utility infrastructure using immersive photogrammetric imagery. Tolo pairs state-of- the-art cameras with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and collects thousands of detailed photos from every angle of a utility tower, capturing images at greater detail than what is visible to an inspector in the field. A novel software application, custom-built for utility inspectors, provides advanced tools and greater inspection freedom and flexibility than field inspection. The result is more accurate, sharable, monitorable inspections that drive better maintenance decisions, reduce utility-caused wildfires, and enhance grid reliability.

About CalSEED
CalSEED is funded through the CEC’s EPIC program which invests approximately US$120M annually for innovative clean energy technologies and approaches benefiting the ratepayers of California’s three largest electric investor-owned utilities. Through the CalSEED initiative US$25M will be deployed to back over 80 startups in coming years. CalSEED is administered
by New Energy Nexus. For more information, please go to calseed.fund

About the California Energy Commission

The California Energy Commission is leading the state to a 100 percent clean energy future. It has seven core responsibilities: developing renewable energy, transforming transportation, increasing energy efficiency, investing in energy innovation, advancing state energy policy, certifying thermal power plants, and preparing for energy emergencies. For more information, please go to energy.gov.ca

Jakarta, 29 March 2022 – New Energy Nexus (NEX), through its Indonesia 1 Fund and Smart Energy Grants, has provided funding to four early-stage clean energy startups [1]. The initiative aims to bridge the funding gap for clean energy start-ups in Indonesia.

Two new companies have been added to the Indonesia 1 Fund portfolio: SES, an energy efficiency company, and SWAP Energy, an e-mobility startup. The Fund has also recently co-invested with East Ventures (an EV growth fund), PT Saratoga Investama Sedaya Tbk. (Saratoga), and Schneider Electric in a follow-on investment in the solar PV startup, Xurya, in its US$ 21,5 million Series A round – the largest Series A funding received for a clean energy startup in Indonesia.

“We’re seeing an incredible opportunity for clean energy and climate innovation startups in Indonesia to galvanize the sector. We are still heavily dependent on fossil fuels, but by empowering clean energy startups we will be able to stimulate the investment climate, accelerate the clean energy transition, and create green jobs,” said Diyanto Imam, Program Director at New Energy Nexus Indonesia.

“We aim to bridge early-stage fundings gaps for clean energy and climate innovation start-ups in Indonesia, which we see as a major gap in Indonesia. That’s why we have provided funding to 16 startups since early 2019 through our Smart Energy Grants and Indonesia 1 Fund. Our goal is to accelerate Indonesia’s clean energy transition, and support the Government’s commitment to addressing climate change.”

According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources data, Indonesia has up to 400,000 MegaWatt (MW) of renewable energy potential, with solar and hydropower targeted for priority development.  

“By the end of 2021, Xurya has installed 57 Rooftop Solar Power Plants. With the Series A, we aimed to accelerate the energy transition in Indonesia by investing more in the development of technology and human capital,” said Eka Himawan, Managing Director of Xurya Daya Indonesia.

CEO of SES, Steve Piro said: “SES is very excited to have gone through Nexus’ accelerator program and now have them as a strategic partner. SES plans to leverage Nexus’ network of potential clients and investors as well as lean on them for strategic advisory.” The Indonesia 1 Fund has co-invested with SEACEF for this investment.

“NEX has always been our biggest supporter in terms of coaching and finances. With NEX investment participation in our Series pre-A round funding, SWAP Energy will accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles even further, supporting the Indonesian government to reach a target of 13 million electric motorcycles on the roads by 2030,” said Irwan Tjahaja, Founder & CEO of SWAP. 

Led by Kejora-SBI Orbit, the Indonesia 1 Fund has co-invested with other investors such as Baramulti Group, Living Lab Ventures (an affiliate of Sinar Mas Group), strategic corporate investors, and high-net-worth investors in Swap Energy’s recent oversubscribed Series pre-A round.

In addition to the Indonesia 1 Fund, New Energy Nexus Indonesia is mobilizing grants through its Smart Energy Grant. This program aims to support startups on their prototyping stage and helps them to validate their business ideas. As of December 2021, New Energy Nexus Indonesia awarded grants for nine clean energy and climate innovation startups. Powerchain, an IoT company, is the latest recipient of Smart Energy Grant for its latest pilot project named “Konde”, an LED smart lighting product designed for street lighting (Lampu Penerangan Jalan Umum). 

“With the Smart Energy Grant that Powerchain received, we expect it to be the stepping stone for Powerchain to expand our market, an upcoming project that potentially can reach 14 thousand installations of smart lighting systems in Java Island and West Nusa Tenggara by Q2-2022,” said Yayan Santoso, the CEO of Powerchain.

NEX supports clean energy and climate entrepreneurs in Indonesia, enabling startups to develop innovative products/services, expand their market, and generate strong economic, social, and environmental impacts. This is aligned with the Indonesian government’s goal to reach 23% renewable energy source in 2025. In 2022, Indonesia will also host the G20 Summit and is expected to call for the acceleration of the global energy transition.

Note to editors:

[1] Indonesia 1 Fund is supported by the Ikea Foundation. 

New Energy Nexus (NEX) is an international organization that supports clean energy entrepreneurs with funds, accelerators, and networks. We started in California and operated programs in Indonesia, China, India, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. Since 2019, New Energy Nexus Indonesia has helped 60 startups through the incubation and acceleration process with Smart Energy Program.

For further information on New Energy Nexus Indonesia grants and fundings, please visit our website.

24 March 2022, Abuja, Nigeria – A new partnership between New Energy Nexus and Clean Tech Hub announced today will accelerate diverse clean energy entrepreneurs and the development of local ecosystems to support climate solutions across Nigeria and West Africa.

Located in Abuja, Nigeria, Clean Tech Hub is a pioneering hub for the research, development, and incubation of clean technologies, increasing energy access and improving climate resilience. The partnership will leverage New Energy Nexus’ expertise in accelerating clean energy startups around the world through funds, skills and networks at the most critical stages of an entrepreneur’s journey to build their climate solution. 

“Clean Technology Hub has been a leading accelerator in the Clean Tech ecosystem for several years, incubating several early-stage startups and providing them with growth support in the years to come. We are excited to meet New Energy Nexus in this partnership and to continue supporting clean energy startups,” said Ifeoma Malo, CEO and co-founder at Clean Tech Hub. 

“Our partnership with New Energy Nexus will allow us to further scale our impact as we expand across West Africa – a particularly urgent task given the need for grassroots and locally developed solutions to tackle the climate crisis.”

West Africa is at the forefront of climate change impacts, but is also poised to be a center for economic growth and innovation. Nigeria, already the largest economy and population in Africa, is projected to have the 14th largest economy by GDP in the world by 2050. Over 30% of Nigerian residents are new entrepreneurs or the owner/manager of a new business – among the highest rates in the world. West Africa, home to more than 380 million people, is one of the youngest and fastest growing populations in the world.

“There are not enough diverse and thriving clean energy entrepreneurs to match the scale of the clean energy transition, at the global level, let alone in the regions we need it most. That’s why we are thrilled to partner with Clean Tech Hub. Not only is it Nigeria’s leading organization supporting clean energy innovation, it is perfectly positioned to scale local climate solutions across West Africa,” said Danny Kennnedy, CEO of New Energy Nexus.

The New Energy Nexus and Clean Tech Hub partnership is a region-wide acceleration program for West African countries with a climate fintech program in Nigeria already in an early design stage.

About Clean Tech Hub

Clean Tech Hub is a pioneering hybrid hub for the research, development, demonstration and incubation of clean and green ideas and technologies in Africa, and their validation for commercial-stage development.  It is an early start-up incubator for inventions and innovations in clean energy, a consultancy for sustainability and energy efficiency solutions and a driver of clean energy investment into Africa.

Oakland, CA, 28 January 2022 — New Energy Nexus announced today that energy technology industry veteran, Denise Rushing, has joined the management team as California’s Managing Director, the latest in several key additions to New Energy Nexus’ growing global team.

“Denise brings a wonderful combination of public and private sector experience along with time as an entrepreneur to New Energy Nexus,” said New Energy Nexus CEO Danny Kennedy. “She will strengthen our global management team and provide the leadership needed to propel us to the next level in California as we collectively strive to meet our 100% clean energy goal for 100% of the population”

Rushing will bring diverse perspectives from the areas of energy technology, market development, program leadership, and community transformation.

“I am thrilled to be joining New Energy Nexus, an organization that understands the scope and scale needed to face global climate challenges, but also leverages its efforts for the greatest impact,” said Rushing. “I am most excited about tackling clean energy’s equity challenges to achieve clean energy for everyone in the shortest time possible.

“The New Energy Nexus team has a solid track record of collaboration, program leadership and building justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion into the clean energy economy. Together, we are looking forward to supporting California’s leaders, stakeholders, and innovators in this important work.”

Rushing earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Stanford University and devoted her career to clean technology market development. Her pioneering work in the energy industry began as a renewable energy engineer at PG&E, where she soon rose to Director of Customer Energy Efficiency, launching award-winning initiatives adopted by utilities around the world. Over the past twenty-five years, she has led and advised a number of disruptive energy technology start-ups and innovators. Key roles included Vice President of Marketing and Sales for eMeter, CellNet Data Systems, and Sage Systems, and General Manager for Invensys Goodwatts home control division.

She was elected to public office and served two terms on the Lake County Board of Supervisors from 2007 to 2014, where she was best known for her environmental advocacy and community revitalization efforts. Rushing led rural Lake County to two State-wide Green California Leadership awards and championed two of the largest public solar energy installations in the Western United States.  

In her new role, Rushing will be overseeing the exciting work that is coming out of New Energy Nexus’s California programs, including the California Sustainable Energy Entrepreneur Development (CalSEED) initiative, The California Test Bed (CalTestBed) initiative, the Clean Energy Business Roundtable (CEBR), Lithium Valley, and Lithium Bridge with the Federal Department of Energy. Rushing is joining at a pivotal time with both CalSEED and CalTestBed preparing to support new cohorts of early-stage clean energy innovators in 2022, and she will be instrumental in ensuring that the development of Lithium Valley is a part of the equitable recovery from the impacts of COVID-19. Her main goal this year will be to enhance and amplify the tremendous efforts that New Energy Nexus is making in California to build a robust and equitable energy innovation pipeline that supports diverse entrepreneurs to bring their clean energy innovations to the marketplace.

4 November – New Energy Nexus Uganda – an organisation supporting entrepreneurs to provide clean energy products in Uganda’s rural communities, where only 19% of the population have access to electricity – is a winner of the Ashden Award for energy access innovation.

Presented at COP26 at a ceremony attended by the President of Costa Rica Carlos Alvarado, the Award honours pioneering organisations lowering carbon emissions and building a fairer world. Winners receive grants, publicity and support to grow and replicate their innovation.

New Energy Nexus Uganda connects people in rural areas with clean energy, through financing, training, technology and investment. In rural Uganda, Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) provide many essential services – supporting better health, education, sanitation and work for local people. New Energy Nexus partners with these locally structured, small organisations to bring affordable renewable energy to the country’s remote (or last-mile) villages.

Aneri Pradhan, founder of ENVenture and Board Director of New Energy Nexus Uganda, said:

“This award is a testament to the entrepreneurs in rural Uganda who are powering their communities with clean energy. We have proven that clean energy distribution is scalable through local Community-Based Organisations, who not only increase access to clean energy in their localities, but create jobs too.

“We are thrilled that Ashden has recognised that empowering grassroots networks are key for increasing access to energy in under-resourced areas, and we hope our model for inclusive distribution will be replicated across the world.”

New Energy Nexus has incubated 123 small clean energy enterprises across Uganda. This has created 650 jobs, 70% of which are occupied by women. These organisations have sold more than 15,000 clean energy products, benefiting 100,000 people, and 77% of customers say their quality of life has improved as a result of their new product. Just over 120 investments have been made to the value of US$200,000 and US$2.9 million income has been saved annually as a result of transition to clean technologies.

Before working with New Energy Nexus, most community-based organisations relied on donations for income. New Energy Nexus provides entrepreneurship training and mentoring, and energy loans to buy clean energy products such as solar lanterns, briquettes, water filters and cookstoves. Organisations sell these at affordable prices to local people. Once organisations have established a successful business model, they unlock another level of credit access qualifying for further support and larger energy loans to buy more products and invest in marketing and sales teams.

Other innovation from New Energy Nexus Uganda includes an offline bookkeeping application for the energy merchants and street vendors. This tracks inventory and sales, works well with limited internet connection, and relies on pictures to ensure it is usable by people with low literacy levels.

One successful partnership is with RFCare, a community-based organisation empowering women and youngpeople in the Rwenzori Highlands region. Through New Energy Nexus’ incubation program, it received a loan of US$2,000 to support the sale of cookstoves that create less air pollution than traditional models, as well as fuel briquettes and non-electric water filters. The loan also helped train young people in cook stove installation and repair. So far, the enterprises have sold 1,800 stoves.

Biira Imelda RFCare cofounder (a New Energy Nexus Uganda partner), said:

“RFCare has been able to work with communities in hard-to-reach areas in Kasese district, due to the business loans accessed from New Energy Nexus Uganda. The elderly are proudly cooking with an improved cook stove.”

Violet Nyakuru, Executive Director at Nile Community Empowerment (a New Energy Nexus Uganda partner), said:

“Madiokoll, Rhino camp has no access to electricity and households rely on kerosene lamps for lighting. With solar lanterns, my clients can now save off kerosene and their children are able to read at night with ease. I believe this is just the beginning of an energy transition for my community.”

David Olodi, Director and Founder of Agri-Light Limited (a New Energy Nexus Uganda partner), said:

“Thanks to ENVenture’s growth fund, we expanded our clean energy business from selling clean energy products to just 5 groups to now operating in over five districts in the northern part of Uganda. 17 out of 30 people in each of our groups have either a pico system or a cookstove.”

Harriet Lamb, CEO of UK-based Ashden, said:

“The Ashden Awards have showcased bold, brilliant and ground-breaking initiatives at COP26. Our winners show what is possible in the shift to a fairer low carbon future and should inspire world leaders to take decisive action to slash carbon emissions. The message to leaders at COP26 is clear – if they get behind such practical and proven climate solutions a zero carbon world is within our reach.”

H.E. President of the Republic of Costa Rica Carlos Alvarado, said:

“All the nominees to the 2021 Ashden Awards have chosen to lead by example. In Costa Rica we share the conviction that sustainable development goes hand in hand with economic growth, as well as a deep commitment to decarbonisation and to promote nature-based solutions to the climate crisis and biodiversity loss challenges we face. For that, I do believe the great endeavour of our generation is to abolish fossil fuels.”

About the Ashden Awards

Climate solutions charity Ashden spotlights and supports climate and energy innovators in the UK and low-income countries delivering proven, ready-to-scale climate solutions. It works with businesses, non-profits and public sector organisations. The Ashden Awards were launched in 2001, and this year’s ceremony took place in the Green Zone at COP26. World leaders and international organisations are gathering in Glasgow from 1-13 November to agree a global plan for tackling the climate crisis.

The 2021 winners were chosen from over 800 applicants for their work creating resilience, green economies – including jobs and training – and fairer societies.

Photos are available here