Resources
Monday, April 18, 2016
Arusha solar plant wins award
ARUSHA, TANZANIA - The Arusha based solar company Off Grid Electric (OGE) has won the prestigious Zayed Future Energy Prize for its work in bringing electricity to power-starved areas of rural Tanzania writes ELISHA MAYALLAH.
The achievement has made the Tanzania second African country to win a global award.
The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) ambassador to Tanzania Abdullah Ibrahim Ghanem Sultan Al-Suwaidi honoured OGE at a recent event for winning the prize in the Small- to Medium-Sized Enterprise category.
Off Grid Electric, based in San Francisco, California and Arusha, Tanzania, is currently installing solar power in over 10,000 new homes and businesses per month.
“Now in its ninth year, the U.A.E.’s international prize recognizes pioneers in the fields of renewable energy and sustainability, and Tanzania is very proud to be the second African country to win in this category, said Abdullah Ibrahim Ghanem Sultan Al-Suwaidi.
The Zayed Future Energy Prize is an annual award which celebrates achievements that reflect impact, innovation, long term vision and leadership in renewable energy and sustainability.
ate Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who championed environmental stewardship.
Finalists for the prize were nominated by experts across the globe and the winners chosen by a jury chaired by Olafur Ragnar Grímsson, President of the Republic of Iceland.
Through the Zayed Future Energy Prize, the United Arab Emirates has been honoring those who have placed a tangible and evident effort in globally advancing renewable energy and sustainable technologies.
One of the greatest unifying challenges the world faces today is the urgency to address climate change, promote sustainable development and encourage innovation in renewable energy technologies.
Each year, an individual, organization or a nongovernmental agency is recognized for groundbreaking achievement in developing and deploying solutions to our future energy needs. There is a top prize of $1.5 million.
By Elisha Mayallah, Monday, April 18th, 2016