Africa Solar Industry Association announces nominees for solar awards 2021

By Wallace Mawire  The Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) has announced nominees for the Africa Solar Industry Awards 2021 reported as a special honor this year to recognize individuals and companies whose efforts have resulted in big achievements and promotion of the industry. It is reported that there are 48 Nominees across 15 categories and spanning a record number of more than 20 countries. “If there was ever an ounce of a doubt that solar is on the move in Africa, it would have certainly disappeared after my experience as a jury for the awards. The full display of talent, innovation, and dedication I noticed in the various applications in each category left me speechless. More than ever I'm confident for the future and big congratulations to all the candidates” said Tony Tiyou, CEO of Renewables in Africa and a member of the Awards jury. The nominees are individuals and companies who have made extraordinary contributions to the African Solar Industry programs that exemplify the highest standards and organizations that have conducted activities to promote and expand the industry across the continent. It is reported that all the awards nominees serve as inspirational leaders to the industry. AFSIA said that they embody the core values of serving those in need. It is added that the nominees will progress as finalists in their respective categories and will be recognized during the Africa Energy Forum. In the Utility Scale Solar Project of the Year, the nominees are the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Solar Project by AMEA Power,the 60MWac Salima Solar project in Malawi by InfraCo Africa and the 50MWp power station by Meinergy Technology Co.In the C&I Solar Project of the Year, the nominnes are the 338kWp with 715kWh of storage by OFGEN,the 8.4MWp rooftop distribution system by ENARA,28 hospitals solar water desalination systems by Boreal Light GmbH and the 1.52MWp solar with a 2.28MWh storage microgrid system by EM-ONE Energy Solutions. In the Mini-grid Solar Project of the Year, the nominnes are the 1.3MW solar-hybrid metro-grid in Goma by Nuru, the 600kWp Lolwe Island MG project by Engie Energy access and the $12M funding for a portfolio of solar MG projects in 49 villages by Winch Energy.In the SHS Solar Project of the Year, the nominees are connecting households in Rwanda for under $1 a month by Ignite Power, raising of a €3M Serie A round for MyJouleBox by Finergreen and 40,000 systems installed and impacting 5000 businesses by ARESS. In the Residential Solar Project of the Year, the nominees are the Solar Pond Sand and filter system for water purification by Global Welfare Foundation,the Reflex's residential project saving 50%-60% by Huawei and the 20kW/60kWh solar PV plus storage facility installation by Jubaili Bros.In the African Solar Company of the Year, the nominees are CrossBoundary Energy owning/operating the largest portfolio of RE PPAs in Africa including 67MW of solar and 40MWh of storage capacity, SolarAfrica renowned being the first to successfully market solar PPAs to residential and commercial power users in South Africa and Munyax Eco mainly doing Solar Water Heaters but diversifying its activities with new solar activities.In the African solar entrepreneur/SME of the year, the nominees are Kudirat Saliu from the Solar Sister Entrepreneurs Program,Ruben Morgado for the Solar Giraffe and SustainSolar.In the Financial Advisor / Consultant of the Year, the nominees are Finergreen for the $6M loan to finance 3 PV hybridization of HFO plants projects in Madagascar,Synergy Consulting Infrastructure and Financial Advisory Services Inc. for several projects including the Dondo pv project, the RMIPPPP and many more and Finergreen for closing 22 mandates in Africa. In the Legal Advisor / Consultant of the Year, the nominees are Wairimu & Co. for the investment of $4M in a MG project, Taciana Peão Lopes & Associados (TPLA) for the Solar Giraffe project and Mr Stephen Gatama from OFGEN for a 350kWp + 1MWh solar project at UAP Equatorial Tower in Juba. In the DFI/Alternative financing of the Year, the nominees are EEP Africa for the €8.3M in grant financing contract,African Development Bank for the $50M for the COVID-19 Off-grid recovery platform, Sunfunder for the $70M Solar Energy Transformation (SET) Fund and SIMA Funds as the sole Fund Manager for Energy Access Relief Fund.In the Woman in solar of the Year,the nominees are Jenny Fletcher from Ariya Finergy,Francine Munyaneza from Munyax Eco and Sylvie Kanimba from ENGIE Energy Access Rwanda. In the Solar Innovation/Technology of the Year, the nominees are Solar Giraffe project, Genius Watter for the Genius RO - solar-powered reverse osmosis desalination technology, Tespack for the solution combining solar, IoT and hardware and East African Power for the EMPWR Pod - a modular agricultural processing technology powered by solar.In the Solar Picture of the Year, the nominees are AB Solar Africa,ARESS and Elaine Solar Africa. In the Solar Video of the Year, the nominees are Solar Giraffe,GIZ and Enara. In the Life-time achievement award, the nominees are Dr Segun Adaju from Consistent Energy ltd,Sherif Magdy El Gabaly from Enara and Franco Traverso from Genius Watter. It is reported that the awards are organized in partnership with the Africa Energy Forum and winners will be announced at a hybrid event ceremony in London, on Tuesday, November 16^th, 2021, at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square.