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MGA Award 2022: RES4Africa, Enel Green Power and the European Investment Bank awarded three young African innovators for their green energy innovative projects

MGA Award 2022: RES4Africa, Enel Green Power and the European Investment Bank awarded three young African innovators for their green energy innovative projects during COP27 event

A start-up specialized in the digitalization of small solar plants, a green box to store and preserve fresh food and a business for the design and production of micro-grids: these are the three innovative ideas that, today (Nov 15), won the Micro-Grid Academy Young Talent of the Year 2022 Award, an initiative jointly promoted by RES4Africa Foundation, Enel Green Power and the European Investment Bank. Selected among more than 50 applicants from all over Africa, the three young entrepreneurs who won the prize of 5000 euros each are Grace Nanteza, 33 years from Uganda; Divin Kouebatouka, 33 years from the Republic of Congo; and Chiemela Anosike, 25 years from Nigeria. 

The winners were announced during the event Youth Empowerment for Driving African Energy Transition, organised by the Rome-based Foundation in the context of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh. The aim of the gathering was to engage with young energy leaders and changemakers, developing on their testimonies about challenges, potential opportunities and features of a youth-led African energy transition. The event benefited from the participation of Enrico Barbato, (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy), Salvatore Bernabei (President of RES4Africa Foundation and CEO of Enel Green Power), Ambroise Fayolle (Vice-President European Investment Bank), Fouad Zayed (Vice-President, Digital Energy NEA & Levant, Schneider Electric), Norah Magero (CEO of Drop Access and member of the R4A Youth Task Force), and Khalid Salmi (Expert-Sustainable Energy Management RCREE). 

Grace Nanteza, a young Ugandan innovator and startupper, proposed Run Automations Limited, a small company specialized in the digitization of small solar plants. Through careful monitoring of consumption and a pay-as-you-go model, Run Automations aims to increase the possibility for small Ugandan customers to access clean energy at competitive prices. 

Divin Kouebatouka, from the Republic of Congo, is the Founder and CEO of Green Box, a social enterprise operating in Congo. Green Box project designs and installs solar powered cold rooms, which can be used by local farmers and ranchers, as well as food retailers. Divin's idea combines access to energy and environmental sustainability, with food security and the growth of local agri-food businesses. 

Chiemela Anosike is a young Nigerian entrepreneur and godmother of the Solaris Green Tech Hub project. The startup designs micro-grids for homes and businesses in rural areas, guaranteeing energy availability even in remote areas and in the absence of networks. 

Finally, a special mention was dedicated to the project of Salah El Sadi, a young entrepreneur from Lybia. His Blue Filter Project pursues the goal of purifying water from nitrates, saline elements and chlorine using green technologies, then making it available to farmers in Palestine.

RES4Africa and its partners strongly believe that renewables and innovation will be the response to the climate changes and energy deficit that Africa faces. In this deeply needed path towards an energy transition, the continent can and must rely on its youngest generations. With this joint initiative, RES4Africa, Enel Green Power and the European Investment Bank put together their efforts to support those young people from all African countries who are committed and motivated to create a real change in their communities. 

"This event and, above all, this Award, address the need to support the involvement of youth participation in Africa's path towards a sustainable future. Young generations are called to embark on an unparalleled revolution, making the energy transition something real: this is the only way to truly make them owners of their future." said Roberto Vigotti, Secretary General of RES4Africa. 

"Let me tell you some of the reasons why the European Investment Bank is so happy to support this initiative: there are two women among the winners, who are representative of Africa's population, and who are showing how their role is important for driving innovation and the energy transition reasons why the European Investment Bank is so happy to support this initiative: there are two women among the winners, who are representative of Africa's population, and who are showing how their role is important for driving innovation and the energy transition." commented Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President at the European Investment Bank.

"This initiative is a cornerstone of RES4Africa's program to enhance the youth and women empowerment in Africa by providing, every year, financial, mentoring support and visibility to 3 young African entrepreneurs' for their innovative projects. This is an opportunity to develop their potential as enablers of change in their communities: with their businesses and innovative thinking, they represent the backbone of a sustainable future for Africa, where universal and affordable access to energy can become a reality." said Salvatore Bernabei, President of RES4Africa and CEO of Enel Green Power.