IEEE Awards $1.2 Million for Off-Grid Energy Entrepreneurs

PISCATAWAY, N.J., Dec. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization advancing technology for humanity, announced that IEEE Smart Village (ISV) has granted $1.2 million in new funds for selected sustainable energy projects with a potential life-changing impact on up to seven million people around the world. ISV, an IEEE Foundation Priority Initiative, is dedicated to promoting sustainable energy and access to educational and entrepreneurial opportunities in energy-impoverished locations around the world. The funded projects are in Nigeria, Uganda, Cameroon, India, and Papua New Guinea.

The projects leverage technology to better the lives of the communities where the systems are located. This year's projects include AC and DC solar powered micro-grids; a next generation portable battery kit that will provide lighting for extremely remote homes; local computer servers and an intra-net delivery system to enable a low-cost curriculum in the local schools; long range Wi-Fi that will allow some locations to tap into the World Wide Web; and one project will include a portable food press that will allow the villagers to process food for better year-round nutrition and be an income source for their families.

Previously funded ISV's projects have directly impacted more than 70,000 people and have proven ISV's business model, which is based on community empowerment, education, and business ownership. Using the base of IEEE global volunteers, the ISV program brings together experienced engineers, educators, volunteers, and donors to provide initial funding to launch, sustain, and develop clean energy and to power advanced education systems. The goal is to empower communities to meet their own long-term needs. ISV is scaling its efforts to bring basic electrical services that help enable transformational opportunities and support community wellbeing - from homes to schools to clinics to businesses - such efforts are expected to benefit more than 50 million people by 2025.

"All over the world, hundreds of millions of people in remote villages lack basic access to electricity," said Ray Larsen, co-chair of the ISV program. "IEEE Smart Village aims to make a big impact. Clean, reliable electricity in a sustainable, scalable business model is key to enabling a better quality of life. Partnerships with major organizations such as Rotary are being developed to bring a full range of basic sustainable business benefits. We aim to make a major contribution to the UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) to eliminate the worst of world poverty by 2030."

This year's recipients were selected from a pool of 30 applicants based on feasibility of their proposed projects, ability to leverage initial funding into a sustainable business plan, incorporation of educational programs, plan for growth to scale, and potential to impact one million people in a five- year timeframe after a successful pilot program.

2017-2018 Off-Grid Energy Entrepreneurs:

    --  Africa Development Promise, UgandaUganda has one of the lowest rates of
        access to electricity in Africa: about 14 percent at the national level
        and about 10 percent in rural areas. This project focuses on rural
        women's entrepreneurship and empowerment by providing hands-on training
        on the solar equipment, new farming techniques enabled by powered
        irrigation, and cooperative food drying, packaging, and sales.
        Investment in solar energy will allow villagers to connect digitally and
        take advantage of community-based learning to bolster agricultural
        cooperatives, maximizing the country's burgeoning mushroom production
        and providing steady income for families.



    --  Green Village Electricity (GVE) Projects Limited, NigeriaInadequate
        power supply, adverse global climatic changes and a low standard of
        living have been major concerns in Nigeria, where currently only 40% of
        the population has access to electricity. Building on the success of
        IEEE Smart Village-funded pilot projects, additional electrification
        will provide holistic, sustainable development in 11 local communities
        and foster the incubation of a projected 650 new businesses. A PAYGO
        (Pay-as-you-Go) metering system helps foster a successful business
        model. The power from the solar micro-grid will run a local grain mill,
        eliminating the 20 km walk to nearest existing mill. Other benefits
        include improved education, improved rural health care, an increase in
        living standards and local productivity. GVE Projects is well
        established and this award is to help leverage new investment for growth
        to reach a million people in the next 3-4 years.



    --  PNG Community Transformation Center, Papua New GuineaElectrification is
        a life-changing factor for the people of PNG, who rely on candles,
        kerosene lamps, and wood fires for lighting. During the rainy season,
        women and children spend their time in dark, smoky huts. Children are
        unable to study after dusk and are exposed to lung and eye damage.
        Additionally, 68% of the rural population lacks access to clean drinking
        water. This project, in conjunction with Rotary International, will
        establish community transformation centers for adult education and
        life-skills training. The solar Micro grids will allow these communities
        to access locally stored management training for business owners to
        thrive, view lesson plans through a local intranet, and have a hosted
        server for local content creation. The Rotary WASH curriculum will also
        be stored on the server for training at preschool and up. A medical
        clinic and child birthing center will be powered as part of the program.
        The use of Universal Portable Battery Kits (UPBK) will provide lights in
        the community huts thereby avoiding health hazards and enhancing
        productivity by providing light in evening hours.



    --  Shakti Empowerment Solutions, IndiaEastern Uttar Pradesh is one of
        India's most underdeveloped regions and statistics show child mortality,
        literacy, gender disparity, income and employment are among India's
        worst. Shakti Empowerment Solutions (SES) works with a threefold
        approach of social enterprise, education and community support and
        through the ISV funding, SES's initial pilot program will fund a solar
        social enterprise as well as the expansion of a community center
        offering modern, digital education and community services. The pilot
        includes power for homes and businesses via both portable battery kits
        and an AC Microgrid. Via solar, onsite additional enterprises will be
        powered, such as a water purification unit and eco-friendly community
        transportation. ISV projects will aim to relieve energy poverty in this
        region of rural India and improve education, business opportunities and
        living standards in an environmentally beneficial way as it expands to
        reach a million people.



    --  Shaybis Nigeria, Ltd. NigeriaDeep in the Kwara state of north central
        Nigeria lies the village of Lajolo where there are no plans for
        extending the state power grid for the foreseeable future. ISV is
        providing hope for the community in the form of an 8.5 Kw solar
        micro-grid as a first pilot. Initial funding will power a school,
        irrigate gardens, and enable refrigeration for the first time at a local
        general store. Discussions with the Kwara State University and the
        University of Ilorin are underway to use this village as a hands-on
        opportunity for the Electrical Engineering students to gain practical
        knowledge of real-world deployments.



    --  Renewable Energy Innovators - Cameroon (REIc) Eleven thousand people
        will benefit from the two phases of the REIc project in Cameroon. The
        first phase deploys IEEE Smart Village SunBlazer technology. Phase I
        uses a mixed-grid approach. The first grid supplies 24v DC for low
        voltage lighting and DC charging. A second grid is a dedicated AC line
        to the commercial center of the villages powering small enterprises such
        as barbering machines, refrigeration and phone charging booths. Phase II
        increases the capacity of an existing solar micro-grid by 170%, bringing
        transformative power to over 50 community businesses and 14 schools in
        the area.

    --  Torchbearer Foundation dba Igniting Africa, CameroonFarming practices in
        rural villages is extremely labor intensive; solar electricity will
        allow automation of activities like irrigation and grain crushing,
        freeing women and girls to pursue educational opportunities while
        reducing overall hunger, improving food security, and dramatically
        reducing greenhouse gases associated with burning kerosene. This project
        is funding an innovative Mobile Power Plant for Agriculture which will
        provide a traveling food processer, grain crusher, oil press, and other
        agricultural food processing tools. The plan is expected to enable
        off-season growing and food storage, enhancing the year-round cash flow
        of the village women. This program has received modest ISV support in
        the past and the new funds are to foster expansion and growth.

Opportunities to Donate:
Funding for all ISV projects comes from donations to the IEEE Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. Numerous technical, administrative and operational volunteers support the effort. Should you wish to donate please visit the following URL: https://ieeefoundation.org/SmartVillage_donation

About IEEE Smart Village
IEEE Smart Village integrates sustainable electricity, education, and entrepreneurial solutions to directly assist off-grid communities to become self-sufficient. Through a global network of local entrepreneurs, expert engineers and passionately dedicated volunteers, we work in partnership with community and other change agents to help empower local economies, create job opportunities, and foster education programs that help communities around the world to learn how to continually improve their quality of life. Learn more at www.ieee-smart-village.org.

About IEEE
IEEE is the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice in a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers, and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power, and consumer electronics. Learn more at http://www.ieee.org

Contact:
Francine Tardo
IEEE
f.tardo@ieee.org
+1-732-465-5865

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