Ifeoma Malo, a Nigerian clean energy access champion

August 31, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Clean Technology Hub, an organization working on the frontlines of energy access and climate change in Africa

Ifeoma Malo is the co-founder of Clean Technology Hub, an organization working on the frontlines of energy access and climate change, across 80 communities in seven countries, including Nigeria, the Gambia, Congo DRC, Ghana, Uganda, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Senegal. The business was established in 2016 and today has 35 employees. She is an energy access expert and a climate action champion with over 23 years of experience building and directing organizational operations and strategy, supporting start-ups and MSMEs across Africa. In the past 10 years, Ifeoma has become a recognized and credible leader in the energy and utility markets, working on the intersection of energy transition, energy markets, energy and climate financing, and climate adaptation markets.

Nilza Mazive, a Mozambican entrepreneur building a green energy business helping consumers reduce costs

June 9, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Nilza Mazive is the co-founder of Xiphefu Digital Ligth, Lda (Mozambique)

Startup Story

Nilza Mazive is the co-founder of Xiphefu Digital Ligth, Lda, a green energy business developing solutions to help consumers reduce energy costs in Mozambique. The business develops solutions to help consumers reduce energy costs, acting on electrical equipment to avoid wasting electrical current. The business also adds the solar component, offers a range of internal and external lamps, and installs solar systems.

Hleziphi Siyothula–Mtshizana, a South African renewable energy pioneer

February 18, 2024 Melanie Hawken

In Pursuit Renewable Energy, a sustainability-focused South African project development, energy efficiency and alternative power solutions business

Hleziphi Siyothula–Mtshizana is an Electrical Engineer and seasoned Energy Professional with almost 16 years’ experience in delivering small to utility scale infrastructure projects with a focus on Renewable Energy. Her business, In Pursuit Renewable Energy in South Africa was formed in 2017 and today has 8 employees. Hleziphi is a former Senior Project Manager within Arup’s Renewables team overseeing a Lender’s Technical Advisory (LTA) team taking Renewables (Solar/Wind) projects from bid submission, Financial Close and Commercial Operation, Construction Monitoring and Operations Monitoring. She was also a former Technical Manager in the IPP sector developing greenfield projects and leading projects in the C&I space. She has developed and delivered over 3000MW of Renewables projects (Solar, Hydro, Wind Battery Energy Storage) in South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ghana and UK. Hleziphi also held leadership roles such as COO of Bonang Power & Energy, Principal for Matt&Co Advisory, Arup Education Trust Trustee, the COO for the SunElex Group and Project Development Team Lead for TASEZ Gas to Energy Project. She is also a mother of 3 Daughters, Skills Development Facilitator, Conference Speaker and Moderator.

Francine Munyaneza, a Rwandan green energy impact-maker

January 21, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Munyax Eco, a solar power business creating access to clean and affordable energy in East Africa

With a master’s degree in business and administration and 15 years of experience globetrotting, Francine Munyaneza skilfully managed operations in international private organizations and later in the humanitarian sector. Her accumulated expertise led her to return to Rwanda and establish Munyax Eco in 2013, an impact focused solar energy company. Through Munyax Eco’s endeavours, she has positively impacted nearly 1,000,000 beneficiaries, reduced carbon emissions by over 5,000 tons annually, and importantly created 30 permanent jobs and over 100 temporary jobs. Notably, the majority of Munyax Eco’s staff and beneficiaries are women.

Margaret Yainkain Mansaray, a trailblazing entrepreneur dedicated to revolutionizing the energy landscape in Sierra Leone

October 1, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Margaret Yainkain Mansaray, Founder and CEO of Women in Energy Sierra Leone Limited

Startup Story

Margaret Yainkain Mansaray is a trailblazing entrepreneur and visionary leader dedicated to revolutionizing the energy landscape in Sierra Leone and beyond. As the Founder and CEO of Women in Energy Sierra Leone Limited, Margaret's journey has been defined by her unwavering commitment to sustainable, inclusive, and innovative solutions. Born and raised in Sierra Leone, Margaret witnessed firsthand the energy challenges faced by her community. This ignited a passion within her to effect meaningful change. Armed with a background in energy engineering, she embarked on a mission to bridge the gap between traditional energy practices and modern, environmentally conscious solutions. Margaret's brainchild, the Smart Green Stove, stands as a testament to her ingenuity. This groundbreaking innovation not only reduces emissions and fuel consumption but also empowers marginalized communities, particularly women, by providing them with a sustainable and efficient cooking solution.

Nthabiseng Mosia, a South African/Ghanaian solar energy trailblazer

August 27, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Easy Solar, a fast-growing off-grid solar company in Africa powering over 1 million people

Nthabiseng Mosia is a trailblazing African social entrepreneur. She is the co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Easy Solar, one of the fastest-growing off-grid solar companies in Africa. Easy Solar distributes and finances high-quality solar solutions for those with limited access to the grid. Created in 2016, Easy Solar has powered over 1 million people, while creating jobs for more than 800 in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Diana Mbogo, an award-winning Tanzanian renewable energy entrepreneur

February 5, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Millennium Engineers Enterprises Limited, a Tanzanian renewable energy company specializing in solar and wind energy technologies

Diana Mbogo, 30, is a mother of two beautiful children and the founder/ managing director of Millennium Engineers Enterprises Ltd, a fast-growing renewable energy company in Tanzania that specializes in discovering untapped markets in different industries and sectors. The company then develops customized innovative business solutions by understanding the challenges, exploring solutions alongside customers/beneficiaries, and taking action in the best way to craft sustainable energy solutions. Founded in 2016 while still in her final academic year pursuing a BSc. in Mechanical Engineering, she managed to grow the company from ideation stage to a fast-growing and award-winning renewable energy company in Africa.

Judith Marera, a renewable energy sector champion in Zimbabwe

January 15, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Lanforce Energy, a Zimbabwean for-profit social enterprise creating affordable access to renewable energy

Judith Marera is the founder and CEO of Lanforce Energy a women-led, for-profit social enterprise in the renewable energy sector. Born and raised in rural Zimbabwe she realised the challenges that women and children go through in search of firewood for cooking. Human Resource practitioner by profession, having worked for both private and the public sector. Her background supplemented with her experience at the Meteorological Services Department and the World Meteorological Organisation, urged her to find solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change. She is a Woman in Africa 2021 laureate (WIA54), 2021 Tony Elumelu Foundation entrepreneurship program beneficiary, 2021 Small and Medium Enterprises Association Zimbabwe (SMEAZ)and the Chartered Institute of Project Managers Zimbabwe (CIPMZ) award winner. 2021 Uplink World Economic Forum Climate Justice Challenge Top Innovator.

Sandra Chukwudozie, a champion of renewable energy in Africa

September 11, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Salpha Energy, a Nigerian renewable energy company bringing solar power to Africa’s underserved homes and businesses

Sandra Chukwudozie is the CEO and Founder of Salpha Energy, a Nigerian-based leading technology-enabled renewable energy company that provides stand-alone solar home systems to homes and businesses in off-grid areas in Africa. She started the business in 2017 and today it employs 30 people. Salpha Energy develops, produces, distributes and finances a range of solar home system products, from entry-level to large productive use systems. It provides a broad range of products aimed at the consumer market and small entrepreneurial businesses. The African energy market is bottom-heavy, so Sandra’s business strategy is to bring the underserved and unserved homes and businesses in rural and urban areas into and up the energy ladder.

The distributed energy future is here!

February 6, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content / Absa

We recognize Africa’s vulnerability to climate change, and together with like-minded individuals and organisations, we will contribute to creating sustainable, value-creating solutions to some of Africa’s greatest environmental challenges.

Soukaina Bouba Dalil, an entrepreneur from Cameroon creating renewable energy solutions

July 25, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Soukaina Bouba Dalil, founder and CEO, Energie d’Afrique (Cameroon)

Startup Story

As the founder and CEO of Energie d’Afrique, Soukaina Bouba Dalil is an engineer in renewable energy. She is 26 years old and comes from the far north region of Cameroon, a rather vulnerable part of the country. It is important to know that the effects of climate change in this part of the region are unavoidable on crops, water and energy resources. As an advocate of sustainable development, Soukaina felt challenged and this is where the idea of her entrepreneurial adventure started in order to meet primary needs and bring sustainable economic and ecological solutions in areas with energy deficits. The company is young, dynamic and is deployed all over the country, and its activities fully contribute to the achievement of sustainable development objectives.

Why is my utility bill so high?

September 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content: Absa / by Vishay Rabbipal, Head of Renewable Energy, Absa

As the Covid-19 crisis spread around the world, many people started working from home which required embracing life in a ‘new normal’ overnight. If you are working from home, it is important to feel comfortable in your space. It is natural that working from home means that you will be using more energy.

Changing the future of the energy sector

September 13, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content: Absa | by Justin Schmidt, Head of New Sectors, Absa

In his fourth and final article, Justin Schmidt, Head of New Sectors at Absa, shares his views on the technologies that are changing the future of the energy sector, allowing for even greater adoption of renewable energy solutions.

Unpacking renewable energy technologies - Part 3 Wind Energy

September 6, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content: Absa | by Justin Schmidt, Head of New Sectors, Absa

In article three of a four-part series by Justin Schmidt, Head of New Sectors at Absa, he will unpack Wind with next weeks final articles unpacking the technologies which are changing the future state of the industry. South Africa will see a large investment into generation from wind farms in the coming decade, with this source of energy equating to 23% of the total generation capacity by 2030. In other words, this will be the fastest growing energy source in South Africa in the coming decade. While this is promising you won’t be able to install a huge tower and wind turbine at your business premises. In this article, wind turbine solutions for households and businesses will be explored and although many of us would love to have a wind turbine producing energy at home, the practical implications are explored below.

Unpacking renewable energy technologies - Part 2 Solar Thermal

August 30, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content: Absa | by Justin Schmidt, Head of New Sectors, Absa

In article two of a four-part series, Justin Schmidt, Head of New Sectors at Absa, unpacks solar thermal with upcoming articles on wind as a technology as well as concluding the series with a view on the technologies which are changing the future state of the industry. With some houses using a much as 30% to 40% of their energy consumption on water heating, solar thermal is a popular means for many households of reducing their energy bills.

Unpacking renewable energy technologies - Part 1 Solar

August 23, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Impact Partner Content: Absa | by Justin Schmidt, Head of New Sectors, Absa

In this series of four articles by Justin Schmidt, Head of New Sectors at Absa, he will unpack the three most topical renewable energy technologies and conclude the series with a view on the technologies which are changing the future state of the industry.

Solar Sister wins 2019 Keeling Curve Prize for Energy Access

July 14, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Solar Sister, the company that has spent the last decade helping bring clean energy to rural homes in Africa, and founded by Katherine Lucey its CEO, has now earned global recognition courtesy of an international award for projects and organizations dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Solar Sister is one of two winners of the 2019 Keeling Curve Prize for energy access, an honor that comes with $25,000 that the nonprofit plans to use to continue supporting local, female entrepreneurs with clean energy businesses in Africa.

Louise Bijleveld, an entrepreneur in Cote d’Ivoire building a clean technology business converting waste to energy

August 26, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Louise Bijleveld, co-founder of LONO (Cote d’Ivoire)

Africa’s need to find innovative and sustainable solutions to waste management and energy generation is growing, and for Louise Bijleveld, co-founder of LONO, that challenge provided the inspiration for a game-changing business.

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