The 2013 Ashden Award nominations, released today, confirm our inclusion as finalists in the International category.
As finalists, we find ourselves in esteemed company. There are six additional finalists including Azuri Technologies, Cookswell Jikos, Impact Carbon, MicroEnergyCredits, and OMC Power. We would like to say congratulations to all of our renewable energy friends for their nomination!
Our Managing Director, Pippa Palmer, said:
“SolarAid is thrilled to be an Ashden finalist. With 400,000 solar lights shining in rural Africa, we’ve beaten all targets. Still, we can’t meet demand. With more capital and more partnerships we’ll kick out kerosene for good, and help lift the continent out of poverty. Next goal? ‘Make it a Million’”.
The Ashden Awards are a globally renowned independent body who reward high calibre, pioneering enterprises who share their vision of sustainable energy for all. They promote universal access to sustainable energy and help dynamic organisations, such as ourselves, inspire the global take up of clean technologies.
The four winners will be announced on 20th June 2013 with the Gold winner set to be announced in the weeks shortly after. Stay tuned for more news.
Sarah Butler-Sloss, Ashden Founder Director said:
“One of the biggest challenges in getting sustainable energy to the poor is getting to the ‘last mile’ – those remote rural areas where commercial distribution and retail networks simply don’t exist. SolarAid’s ingenious distribution methods are getting power to the people who need it the most.”
This news comes at a very exciting time for SolarAid as we reflect on a hugely successful year and look forward to future objectives. Last year we sold over 400,000 solar lamps in Africa’s most remote communities. With your help we are aiming to smash that figure this coming year.