Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development initiative - Winners

In it's inaugural round, more than 475 organizations from 80 countries applied to the Powering Agriculture Grand Energy Challenge for Development, offering market-based, clean energy innovations for the agricultural sphere in developing countries. Each of the 11 winning organizations received awards of between $800,000 and $1.5 million.

Processing Biomass-Powered Thermal Processing of Ethiopian Bamboo African Bamboo, Ethiopia African Bamboo is developing an environmentally friendly bamboo thermal modification process in Ethiopia. The technology involves the combustion of biomass dust—a technological approach that is completely new to Ethiopia. Read more about the project here: Hybrid Vehicles with Exportable Power for Community-Based Agriculture Mechanization Motivo Enegineering, India Motivo Engineering is developing hybrid vehicles with exportable power for community-based agriculture mechanization. The system utilizes power from varied energy sources such as solar panels, wind turbines, micro-hydro turbines, or the grid to enable increased productivity all along the agriculture value chain. Read more about the project here. Hydroponic Greem Farming Initiative ECO Consult, Jordan Built around a culture of excellence, the innovative approach of ECO Consult is combined with solid knowledge and abundant experience and geared towards achieving sustainable development in Jordan and the Middle East. Read more about the project here. Irrigation Micro-Solar Utilities for Small-Scale Irrigation in Senegal The Earth Insitute at Columbia University, USA The Earth Institute brings together the people and tools needed to address some of the world's most difficult problems, from climate change and environmental degradation, to poverty, disease and the sustainable use of resources. Read more about the project here. Solar-Powered Pumps for Improved Irrigation in Honduras, Nepal, Zambia iDE International Development Enterprises, USA iDE is an international non-profit dedicated to ending poverty in the developing world not through handouts, but by helping farm families access the tools and knowledge they need to increase their income. Read more about the project here.

Decentralized Power Camco Advisory Services, Tanzania Camco works with local partners to develop small to large scale renewable energy projects. ► Biomass Mini-Grids for Palm Oil Producing Communities in Benin and Tanzania (Camco Advisory Services) EarthSpark International, Haiti Poor households and small businesses in developing countries pay a lot for low quality fuels even though inexpensive, high-quality substitutes are being produced by companies around the world. EarthSpark fills in the “missing links” – market research, a business model, and start-up capital – which are necessary to deliver high-quality energy technologies and services. ► Solar-Diesel Hybrid System for Agricultural Processing in Haiti (Earth Spark International) Cold Storage Rebound Technology, Mozambique SunChill is a off-grid refrigeration solution enabling increased agricultural productivity by removing field heat from crops following harvest and providing continued product cooling at local markets. ► Solar Cooling for Horticultural Preservation in Mozambique (Rebound Technology) Promethean Power Systems, India Promethean Power Systems designs and manufactures rural refrigeration systems for commercial cold-storage applications in off-grid and partially electrified areas of developing countries. ► Solar Powered Milk Chilling in Rural India (Promethean Power Systems) SunDanzer Refrigeration, Kenya SunDanzer was founded by the leader of NASA’s Advanced Technology Refrigeration Project with the goal of utilizing state-of-the-art technology for solving age-old earth-bound problems. ► Solar-Powered Refrigeration for Kenyan Dairy Farms (SunDanzer) University of Georgia Research Foundation, Uganda The University of Georgia Research Foundation is the named party to sponsored research agreements for projects to be performed at University of Georgia. ► Biogas-Powered Evaporative Cooling for Uganda’s Dairy Industry (UGARF & Smallholder Fortunes)

Further Information

• Agriculture Powering Agriculture Portal on energypedia
• Website: Powering Agriculture - Winners 2013
• Powering Agriculture Call for Innovation Powering Agriculture Call 2014