Innovative applications of sustainable energy can solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. This week’s stories focus on the innovators and leaders working to make the vision a reality.
“Can energy for all be a reality by 2030?” by Paige McClanahan on The Guardian Poverty Matters Blog
Eradicating energy poverty in the next 18 years is an ambitious goal, but one that UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, is confident that the world can achieve. The goal is one of the main aims of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative. Ban Ki-moon maintains that sustainable energy solutions can solve some of the world’s biggest challenges: poverty, economic development, and climate change. The following articles recognize those who are working to apply sustainable energy to solve those problems.
The Tech Awards to Honor Global Innovators Who Use Technology to Benefit Humanity
The Tech Awards have named our portfolio company Simpa Networks a 2012 Sustainable Energy Global Laureate. The Tech Awards honor techmanitarians: innovative and entrepreneurial humanitarians applying technology to the world’s social problems. The laureates will attend a week-long session in Silicon Valley and will receive a cash prize of either $25,000 or $75,000. Simpa is recognized for leveraging technology to solve the problem of affordability in India.
“Solutions sought to end use of kerosene lamps” by James Melik on BBC News
Mainstream media continues to recognize solar a solution to end the use of kerosene lamps. Households spend up to 25% of their income on kerosene just to light their homes. By creatively bundling the price of energy to small increments, akin to topping up for mobile airtime, customers can afford better quality and cost effective energy. The article names several examples of enterprises working to deploy such solutions, including Sunny Money and Azuri Technologies.
“Smart grids: clean energy savior” on Power Engineering
Often renewable and sustainable energies are expensive with inconsistent growth. Power Engineering thinks that smart grids have the potential to change that, bringing strong and stable growth to the industry. It would enable grids to better manage both consumer usage and better store supply from solar and wind sources. According to the article, “private sector development will be key to the economic viability of green energy.”
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