Deadline: 20-Nov-22
Siemens Stiftung on behalf of the Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) Consortium is launching its first “SESA Call for Entrepreneurs”, targeting small and medium-sized enterprises with a focus on sustainable energy solutions in Ghana, Malawi, Morocco and South Africa.
Reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy access has been a challenge for rural communities in Africa. SESA, a European Commission-funded project, aims to test, validate and later replicate innovative solutions as well as business models to accelerate the green transition across the African continent. It was launched in October 2021 with a duration of 48 months and is operational in nine African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania.
Energy access for productive use that creates value, by increasing productivity or income, and job creation is strongly correlated with economic development in rural areas. This “Call for Entrepreneurs” focuses primarily on the Productive Use of Energy (PUE) solutions. Each of the four participating countries: Ghana, Malawi, Morocco and South Africa has developed an individual country challenge with a stronger local focus, concentrated in specific areas to address their regional dynamics.
Benefits
- Entrepreneurs selected through this call will receive a range of benefits including funding from €50,000 up to €70,000 per business over 18 months.
- Additionally, they get an opportunity to join the SESA Incubator Programme to strengthen their organisation based on their individual needs.
Country Challenges
- Ghana
- Demand for energy in Ghana is increasing by ten per cent per year, requiring increased generating capacity. Ghana is focused on the development of electrical and other alternative fuel sources, with the aim to also reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. Siemens Stiftung believes that biomass-to-energy and/or waste-to-energy solutions hold a huge potential for Ghana with potential for environmental and social benefits.
- To support these efforts, Siemens Stiftung on behalf of the SESA Consortium is looking for Ghanaian local innovators, start-ups and entrepreneurs to collaborate with SESA Partners in Ghana in promoting successful Productive Use of Energy approaches.
- Productive Use of Energy refers to energy use that creates value, for example, increased productivity or income, job creation, or overall improvements to welfare in form of freeing up time and reducing effort and labour.
- Fundable solutions fall within the following categories:
- Biomass-to-Energy Solutions (i.e. biogas for productive use in schools/ rural areas)
- Waste-to-Energy Solutions
- Energy Efficient Use Appliances (i.e. solar irrigation, cooling, drying, agro-processing)
- Power sources (i.e. solar panels, fire briquettes/ biomass pellets)
- Energy storage technologies (i.e. 2nd life batteries)
- Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
- Focus region: Siemens Stiftung particularly welcomes applications that focus on rural areas in Ashanti region (for example Atwima Nwabiagya Municipal) as well as urban areas in Greater Accra region (for example Ga North Municipal).
- Malawi
- Malawi has committed to achieving “Sustainable Energy for All”, defining energy as a means to an end that can provide a platform for social and economic development. The third Malawian Growth and Development Strategy recognizes this central role of energy, citing it as “the lifeblood of the economy”, and laying out a goal to “provide sufficient sustainable energy for industrial and socioeconomic development”.
- To support these efforts, Siemens Stiftung on behalf of the SESA Consortium is looking for Malawian innovators, start-ups and entrepreneurs that promote successful Productive Use of Energy approaches, particularly with a focus on rural areas.
- Productive Use of Energy refers to energy use that creates value, for example, increased productivity or income, job creation, or overall improvements to welfare in form of freeing up time and reducing effort and labour. SESA’s definition of Productive of Energy includes electrical, thermal and mechanical power.
- Fundable solutions fall within the following energy categories:
- Energy Efficient Use Appliances (i.e. solar irrigation, cooling, drying, agro-processing)
- Power sources (i.e. solar panels, fire briquettes/ biomass pellets)
- Energy storage technologies (i.e. batteries)
- Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
- Please note: Siemens Stiftung does not accept applications that focus on cook stove solutions.
- Each year, the energy demand in Morocco increases dramatically, necessitating an increase in producing capacity, particularly in rural regions. In its National Sustainable Development Strategy, Morocco has set out ambitious goals to enable the transition to a green and inclusive economy – with a particular focus on the electrification of rural areas.
- Morocco
- The SESA Consortium believes that Productive Use of Energy approaches in rural areas, for example de-centralised mini-grids powered by solar energy, could have enormous environmental and social possibilities for Morocco and the African continent as a whole.
- With the goal of bolstering economic growth in a sustainable manner and supporting the Morocco’s green transition, Siemens Stiftung is looking for Moroccan innovators, start-ups and social enterprises who focus on Productive Use of Energy approaches.
- Productive Use of Energy refers to energy use that creates value, for example, increased productivity or income, job creation, or overall improvements to welfare in form of freeing up time and reducing effort and labour.
- Fundable solutions fall within the following categories:
- Energy Efficient Use Appliances (i.e. solar irrigation, cooling, drying, agro-processing)
- Power sources (i.e. solar panels, fire briquettes/ biomass pellets)
- Energy storage technologies (i.e. 2nd life batteries)
- Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
- Focus region: Siemens Stiftung particularly welcomes applications that focus on Marrakesh-Safi/Asfi Region or Grand Casablanca or Béni Mellal-Khénifra Region.
- South Africa
- Reliable, affordable and sustainable energy access has been a challenge for many communities in South Africa. Although the lack of infrastructure in these regions represents a challenge, it also offers a unique opportunity and has vast implications for how the infrastructure of the future must be conceptualised, designed and operated.
- With the acceptance that electricity access and use are strongly correlated with economic development, the SESA partners in South Africa are in the process of setting up a validation site in Alicedale located within the Eastern Cape, with the aim of testing and validating a containerised renewable energy system which comprises of solar photovoltaic panels and second life electric vehicle batteries for stationary energy storage embracing the circular economy framework. The system will additionally be coupled with a fleet of micro-electric utility vehicles on extending the produce use of energy. This would not only solve the energy accessibility but also open economic opportunities leading to job creation for the communities.
- To support the above efforts, Siemens Stiftung on behalf of the SESA Consortium is looking for South African local innovators, start-ups and social enterprises with a focus on productive use of energy solutions to collaborate with SESA partners.
- Productive Use of Energy refers to energy use that creates value, for example, increased productivity or income, job creation, or overall improvements to welfare in form of freeing up time and reducing effort and labour. SESA’s definition of Productive of Energy includes electrical, thermal and mechanical power.
- Fundable solutions fall within the following energy categories:
- Power sources (i.e. containerised renewable energy systems with solar/PV panels)
- Energy storage technologies (i.e. second life electric vehicle batteries for stationary energy storage)
- Energy efficient uses (i.e. micro-utility vehicles)
- Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
- Regional focus: Siemens Stiftung welcomes applications that focus on the Eastern Cape and with particular interest in expanding to the region of Alicedale.
Eligibility Criteria
- Women-led enterprises are particularly encouraged to apply.
- Siemens Stiftung can only consider applications, which meet the below minimum criteria:
- Your enterprise must be registered and operationally active in Ghana, Malawi, Morocco or South Africa;
- Your enterprise must have officially been in operation for at least two years;
- Your enterprise must have generated revenues and provide financial statements for the last two years (if 2021 is not available yet, please provide financial statements for 2019 and 2020);
- Your enterprise must contribute to at least two of the SESA Key Performance Indicators (please see the application form for further detail);
- There are no pending litigations against your enterprise or members of its management team;
- Your application should meet the thematic focus of your country’s challenge.
For more information, visit https://www.siemens-stiftung.org/en/media/news/calling-smart-energy-solutions-in-ghana-malawi-morocco-and-south-africa/