Solar for All” contest for innovative PV off-grid power supply system solutions with integrated market approach

Ashoka and the Canopus Foundation, initiators of the Solar for All initiative, are launching the “Solar for All” contest for innovative low-cost photovoltaic systems and customer financing schemes. The competition is open to actors including manufacturers, PV system integrators, and social entrepreneurs providing sustainable and reliable energy to low income end-users without access to the electricity grid.

In many developing countries with limited access to energy, decentralized solar energy provides a sustainable and reliable energy source. Yet access to energy remains constrained by factors like limited access to well-adapted affordable technology, fragmented small markets, prohibitive taxes, and limited financial resources. The Solar for All initiative wants to meet these technical and financial challenges with a global design contest.

The “Solar for All” contest focuses on end-user needs. Applications shall demonstrate improvements to the modularity, scalability and replicability of PV systems and advance innovative payment and financing schemes.

The winner of the ‘Solar for All’ contest will be awarded a $250,000 investment by Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation. Three of the finalists will also be recognized for innovations in technology, finance and marketing. Participants in the contest could also be supported by a projected $100 million solar investment fund. This new fund, to be established by the ‘Solar for All’ initiative, will invest across the PV solar value chain, including microfinance support.

The contest begins on December 1st, 2009 and the submission period ends on April 30th, 2010.

For further information please click here.