Beyond the potential to put loadshedding’s endless reign to rest, green energy solutions are also really important for the Earth’s future. Big brains are currently competing in a massive Green Energy competition, and here’s what they’ve come up with:
Johannesburg, South Africa (05 November 2023) — The five teams advancing to the Finalist Round of a massive Green Energy competition—the Milken–Motsepe Prize in Green Energy—have recently been announced! Each finalist team will receive $70,000 (over R1.2 million) to further develop and hone their designs in a live field test demonstration in South Africa next year; ultimately spearheading more ideas for alternative energy solutions.
The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to solving global challenges with a focus on financial, physical, mental, and environmental health.
The Motsepe Foundation was founded in 1999 by Dr. Patrice Motsepe and his wife, Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe with a goal to eradicate poverty and to sustainably improve the living conditions and standards of living of poor, unemployed, and marginalized people in South Africa, Africa, and the world over.
And the Finalist Teams Are:
- AfTrak Micro Electric Agriculture and Energy—for its innovative system of using solar microgrids to power custom-designed tractors for deep-bed farming
- GEG ehf., for its solar and geothermal-powered hybrid renewable energy system
- New Digit Technologies, for its compact, portable device to generate energy and purify water
- OMNIVAT, for its containerized electricity generation and storage system for remote communities and
- Smart Agri-Centres, for its solar-powered community hubs that provide affordable clean energy and services to farmers.
“Access to electricity can advance industrialization across Africa and improve the standards of living for many marginalized communities,” said Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, co-founder and CEO of the Motsepe Foundation.
“These finalists are building innovative solutions to deliver on the promise of a sustainable future, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. We will be delighted to welcome them to South Africa for the live demonstrations next year.”
An independent panel of expert judges determined the five teams continuing to the Finalist Round based on a rigorous evaluation of real-world data.
Judges will continue to evaluate competing teams’ abilities to meet the challenge of generating 60kWh of electricity in a 24-hour period by:
- demonstrating off-grid electricity generation using green energy sources;
- validating demonstration results with data collection; and
- providing affordable and reliable electricity to energy-poor communities, as informed by the demonstration.
“These finalists have once again proven the value of the innovation competition model in driving breakthroughs,” said Emily Musil Church, PhD, senior director at the Milken Institute. “The Semifinalist Round pushed these teams to stretch their limits and build solutions that are scalable and life-changing for millions.”
To date, the competition has awarded $750,000 (almost R14 million) to entrepreneurs testing bold ideas to expand access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity in Africa.
In May 2024, the judges will award a grand prize of more than R18 million. A runner-up prize will also be awarded, but more importantly, new energy solutions will hopefully have the momentum to empower communities with eco-consideration.
by 