With over 3.5 billion people lacking reliable access to electricity, the growth potential of the solar PV market in developing countries is immense. But to reach its potential, products need to be well adapted and affordable for even the lowest income consumer.
For the past six months, Solar for All has been running a Design Contest, managed by the Canopus Foundation, to find the best technical innovations that can make solar photovoltaic technology affordable and accessible for the developing world.
Prof. Eicke Weber, Executive Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy ISE and chairman of the Jury explains: "From an outstanding field of manufacturers, PV system integrators, and social entrepreneurs, the has brought together some of the world's most innovative technical solutions for providing sustainable and reliable energy solutions to customers without access to the electricity grid."
From 58 companies and organizations from 29 countries four finalists have been chosen:
+ Greenlight Planet
+ Kaito Energie AG
+ Phaesun
+ Promethean Power Systems
"The applications demonstrate groundbreaking advancements in the modularity and scalability of PV solutions for the off-grid market," Dr. Peter W. Heller, Executive Director of the Canopus Foundation remarks, "showing also advances in payment and financing schemes, and innovative new strategies for market outreach and distribution."
The products range from lanterns, pico solar and solar home systems, mini-grids and hybrid solutions, all targeted at addressing the needs of low income communities.
The winners will be announced on July 12, 2010. The First Prize of the Solar for All Design Contest is an investment of $250,000 from the Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation. The runner up will receive euro 10,000 from Good Energies, and all shortlisted finalists will be eligible for consideration for potential investment from the Solar for All Investment Fund to be launched in 2011.
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