The Challenge
Presently 1.6 billion people worldwide, mostly in developing countries, live without access to energy. Modern energy fulfils basic needs, but is also a necessary motor for socio-economic development. Electricity advances developmental factors such as small business development, access to appliances (e.g., refrigeration), extended operation and working hours, access to communications, more security, enhanced education levels and rural development. Energy can improve the life of millions.

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.

KeyCriteria
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:

1. We are looking for innovative PV off-grid power supply solutions for low-income end-users in developing countries. These may be solar home systems, mini-grids, hybrid solutions or PV systems with special applications. We are open to a broad variety of solutions as long as they produce AC or DC power and are focused on end-users. The technical innovation might be a modular system, that is highly adaptable to local conditions with an intelligent payment system (e.g. RFID) or an anti-theft measure.
2. We are looking for contributors who in addition to their technical innovation, have already developed a market approach. This can be a business plan, a market penetration strategy, installation and maintenance (like after sales services), end-user financing, geographic scalability or other positive socio-economic impacts like the involvement of women. Applicants may focus on one or on several of these aspects.

The "Solar for All" Contest focuses on technical solutions and encourages applications that can also address all other challenges.

Who can apply for the “Solar for All” Contest?
We are looking forward to applications amongst others by manufacturers (e.g. PV modules, battery), system integrators, social entrepreneurs, NGOs or universities. Important is the will and capability of realizing a technical production facility in a challenging environment as the off-grid market in developing countries.

Timeline
1 December 2009 - Contest Announcement
28 February 2010 - Expression of Interest (optional)
30 April 2010 - End of Submission
12 July 2010 - Award Ceremony

Click here to download the Solar for All contest guidlines.
Click here to download the Solar for All contest application form.

Click here to download contest information in Spanish.
Click here to download contest information in Chinese.

Contact
Canopus Foundation
E-Mail contest@canopusfund.org
Phone +49 761 2020 172