AFRICA: the 4th AFSIA Solar Awards are launched

By Jean Marie Takouleu – Published on July 18 2023 / Modified on July 18 2023

Solar energy is one of the solutions for accelerating electrification and the energy transition in Africa. To support the players in this sector, the African Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) is organising the AFSIA Solar Awards. “The ceremony aims to honour and recognise individuals and/or companies that have significantly contributed to the growth of the industry and achieved remarkable milestones within the African solar industry and society as a whole. It’s an opportunity to recognise their impact and outstanding achievements”, explains Kersy Nsengiyumva, head of the AFSIA Solar Awards.

For the 4^th edition, players in the solar industry will be honoured in 13 categories:

•  Solar Power Plant of the Year
•  C&I (self-consumption) project of the year,
•  SHS Company of the Year,
•  Mini-grid of the Year,
•  Productive Use Solution or Application (PUE) of the Year,
•  Solar Innovation of the Year,
• Video of the Year,
•  Transaction/Financing of the Year,
• Solar entrepreneur/SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) of the year,
•  African Solar Company of the Year,
•  Advisor/Consultant of the Year (finance/legal/technical),
• Photo of the Year,
•  Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nominations are open until 24 August 2023. The winners of the 4^th AFSIA Solar Awards will receive their awards at the Renewable Energy Forum Africa (REFA), to be held from 4 to 6 October 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya. The competition is being organised in an African context marked by the rise of solar power as a low-carbon energy source for electrification and energy transition.

The dynamism of this sector is being driven by a large number of companies that are investing heavily across Africa. A number of these players were honoured at the 3^rd AFSIA Solar Awards in 2022. These include Nuru, which is deploying solar-powered metropolitan electricity grids, Engie Energy Access, which is providing access to electricity via its decentralised solar systems, and InfraCo Africa and JCM Power, which won awards for their 20 MWac Golomoti solar photovoltaic power plant with storage.