Power Africa 2015 Photo Contest Winners

In celebration of its two year anniversary this week, Power Africa is announcing eight winners for it's inaugural photo contest. The winning collection captures the momentum and ideas that are driving innovation in sub-Saharan Africa’s energy sector. Winners were showcased during the 2015 Africa Energy Forum, where Power Africa served as a strategic partner to conference organizer EnergyNet.

“When people see the innovative energy projects and ideas emerging out of sub-Saharan Africa, they see that progress can and will be made for creating a brighter future,” said Andrew M. Herscowitz, President Obama’s coordinator for Power Africa.

The photo contest proposed the following challenge for participants to answer through their submissions:

• Impact: What does energy and energy innovation look like in practice?
• Change: How does access to electricity change a human life or an ecosystem (government, community, organization)?
• New Model: How is Power Africa’s approach different?
• Partnership: What does energy look like when we work together in partnership through Power Africa?

Over 60 entries were received as part of the contest and can be viewed online. The following are the list of winners of the contest, as selected by a panel of Power Africa judges, in the four areas listed above:

CHANGE: What does energy innovation look like?

Gigawatt Global: Gigawatt Project Rwanda

Solar field at the Agahozo Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda

Photographer: Sameer Halai

d.light:  Impact through energy innovation

Impact through energy innovation, supported by the Power Africa Beyond the Grid initiative, empowers rural families in Tanzania to extend their productive day well beyond nightfall.

dLight

IMPACT: How does access to electricity change a human life or an ecosystem?

Little Sun Solar: Her first solar-powered light

In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a schoolgirl is introduced to Little Sun – her first solar-powered light – and the concept that she can hold power in the palm of her hand.

Merklit Mersha

Azuri PayGo Solar: Before with kerosene, after with Azuri PayGo Solar

A comparative shot – before with Kerosene, after with Azuri PayGo Solar

NEW MODEL: How is Power Africa's Approach different?

SunFunder: SunFunder SolarNow Uganda

This 500W solar system in a rural village in Uganda powers a home, drives a public broadcasting system, a barbershop and a video hall and generates new income for the business owner.

Photographer: Sameer Halai, Co-Founder of SunFunder Solar Company: SolarNow

dVentus: A dVentus Engineer in the office conducting tests

A dVentus Engineer in the office conducting tests

dVentus

PARTNERSHIP: What does energy look like when we work together in partnership?

Powerhive: Powerhive - driving local commerce and aiding economic development

Drivnig local commerce and aiding economic development

Powerhive

Arizona State University: ASU-led VOCTEC program: Hands-on all-women training, Nairobi

Hands-on excercise refering to manual, ASU-led VOCTEC program, all-women training Strathmore University, Nairobi April 2015.

Photographer: Ambika Adhikari