By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A leading organisation in the off-grid energy sector, d.light, could receive about £1 million in prize money next month to expand the reach of its transformational products.
This is because the company was selected as one of the Earthshot Prize Finalists from a pool of close to 2,500 organisations across 139 countries at the third-annual Earthshot Innovation Summit.
Founded by Prince William in 2020, The Earthshot Prize is the world’s most prestigious environmental prize designed to discover, spotlight and scale groundbreaking solutions to repair and regenerate the planet.
Finalists also earn a place on the Earthshot Fellowship Programme, receiving dedicated mentorship, resources, and technical support, including access to The Prize’s Global Alliance of Partners, a robust network of the world’s largest businesses, donors, investors and environmental organisations committed to climate action.
The global provider of transformational household solar products and affordable finance for low-income households was chosen because of its pioneering solutions to the pressing climate and environmental challenges.
If d.light makes it to the top five at The Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa in early November, it will get £1 million in prize money.
“We’re truly honoured to be named as a finalist for such a prestigious award, and recognition from the Earthshot Prize committee is a reflection of d.light’s efforts to support underserved communities by providing access to safe, affordable off-grid solar solutions.
“2024 has been a landmark year so far for d.light and it’s exciting to see that our impact has extended beyond the solar industry to the wider sustainability community. Pivotal moments have included raising USD$176 million in securitized financing in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, launching our customer loyalty programme and installing solar in over 1.7 million off-grid households across Africa.
“d.light is the first company in the off-grid energy sector to be nominated for the Earthshot Prize, outlining our credentials as a pioneer in this space.
“Since the company was founded in 2007, we’ve developed unique and innovative ways to manufacture, distribute and finance solar projects in the developing world, allowing us to transform the lives of over 175 million people in the process.
“To be named as a finalist helps us amplify our core message that so many still live without access to a safe source of electricity while supporting our efforts to spearhead the rollout of reliable solar solutions,” the chief executive of d.light, Mr Nedjip Tozun, stated.