Renewable Transformation Challenge

The objective of the Elsevier-ISES Renewable Transformation Challenge Promotion (“Challenge”) is to recognize and honor outstanding work towards a world powered by renewable energy and with accessible energy for all.  This objective is consistent with the vision of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), which is for a world powered by 100% renewable energy used efficiently and wisely and accessible for all. To achieve this vision, a global transformation of our energy systems to efficient and affordable renewable energy must take place.

The Challenge promotion is administered every two (2) years to recognize accomplishments by organizations such as private enterprises, NGOs, and research institutions for undertaking projects and programs that help move the world toward an energy system supplied entirely by renewable energy sources, or for conducting the critical analyses that provide meaningful roadmaps for the transformation. The award winner represents one step towards furthering ISES’ vision.  This vision can only be achieved through private and civil society initiatives towards innovative and successful programs that adopt the use of renewable energy technologies, and the intelligent application of energy efficiency measures. In the context of this Challenge, the energy transformation applies to all end-use energy consumption: power, heat, and transport.

Solar Sister Entrepreneur Akeri Ukpong at a product fair held by entrepreneurs on market day to showcase products to potential customers. Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.

The winners of the RTC 2023 are Solar Sister and their initiative to empower women to eradicate energy poverty.

Since 2010, Solar Sister has worked to fight energy poverty across this region by recruiting, training, and supporting women entrepreneurs as they create clean energy distribution businesses. Solar Sister Entrepreneurs sell products produced by trusted manufacturers, ranging from a small phone-charging lamp to larger solar home systems and clean cookstoves.

After over a decade of operations, Solar Sister remains the only organisation working at the intersection of women's empowerment, energy poverty and climate change in Africa. Solar Sister’s theory of change is that through developing women entrepreneurship, both the women entrepreneurs and their communities benefit from positive impacts in the areas of energy access, climate justice and gender equity.

Meet the 2021 Renewable Transformation Challenge winners Coldbox Store, who offer a solar-powered walk-in, commercial, refrigeration solution fighting food waste which is a significant driver in climate change, as 6% of all global greenhouse emissions come from the production of food that is never eaten. Watch a recording of the 2021 awards ceremony here.

Meet the 2019 Renewable Transformation Challenge winners - Team SUNSPOT here. Team SUNSPOT works to replace polluting fuels with a solar-powered home cooking system.

In 2017, the team at  ME SOLshare won the first ever Renewable Transformation Challenge with their project  "The Energiewende 3.0 - Smart P2P Solar Grids". ME SOLshare provides a peer-to-peer solar energy trading platform empowering individuals and SMEs to become solar entrepreneurs offering pay-as-you-go and cash-in-as-you-go electricity solutions to low-income households. ME SOLshare therefore has potential to play a crucial role in supporting rural development and providing a means of direct income to rural communities.

To learn even more about the challenge, have a listen to our podcasts about the Renewable Transformation Challenge:

• About the Challenge background, prize and judging panel with Joanna Costello and Fernanda Ogochi
• Learn about the judging criteria with Yogi Goswami and Joanna Costello
• Learn why this challenge is so important and what the judges are looking for from the winning entry with Dr David Renné and Joanna Costello
• About why we launched the Challenge, and what we learned from the 2017 award with Dr David Renné and Adam Fraser