Global LEAP Announces 2016–17 Off-Grid TV and Fan Competition Results
International Development Partners Announce Winners & Finalists of Global LEAP Awards for Off-Grid Solar Compatible TVs and Fans.
WASHINGTON — The Global Lighting and Energy Access Partnership (Global LEAP) — a market development initiative of the Clean Energy Ministerial that has been led by the U.S. Department of Energy and supported by a variety of development partners including Power Africa — has announced the Winners and Finalists of the 2016–17 Global LEAP Awards Television and Fan Competitions. The Global LEAP Awards identify and promote the world’s best, most energy-efficient appliances that are designed for use with off-grid solar energy systems.
“High quality, energy-efficient off-grid appliances transform the lives for people living without access to the grid, by making the most of the limited energy supply provided by off-grid solar energy systems,” said Andrew M. Herscowitz, Coordinator for Power Africa, a U.S. Government-led partnership which aims to double access to electricity in Africa by 2030.
This round of the Global LEAP Awards also includes the first-ever competition for off-grid refrigerators. Global LEAP anticipates announcing results from the refrigerator competition in January 2018. All told, the 2016–17 Global LEAP Awards attracted 128 nominations from 41 companies in 17 different countries across its three product categories, including 30 companies participating for the first time, a significant increase over previous competitions.
“Because they reduce costs and give people the energy services they need, efficient appliances are critical to the continued growth of the global off-grid solar market,” said Katrina Pielli, Senior Energy Advisor and lead for Power Africa’s Beyond the Grid initiative. “We are excited to see so many companies participating in the Global LEAP Awards, which is a strong signal of interest and growth in this market.”
Winners and Finalists from this year’s competitions are eligible to participate in the Global LEAP Off-Grid Appliance Procurement Incentives program. This innovative program, funded by Power Africa in partnership with Energising Development (EnDev), drives best-in-class appliance products into key off-grid markets by providing incentives to appliance manufacturers and off-grid solar distributors that partner to distribute large quantities of Global LEAP Awards winning and finalist products.
In addition, the outcomes of the 2016–17 Global LEAP Awards will help inform leading impact investors Acumen and Shell Foundation’s proactive efforts to catalyze and validate new technology and business models to bring highly efficient appliances to off-grid consumers.
All Global LEAP Awards Winners and Finalists undergo testing by accredited laboratories for their energy performance, quality, and reliability, and an evaluation by a panel of off-grid market experts.
This is the third round of the Global LEAP Awards. The first round was announced in 2014 and the second round in 2016. More information on those competitions can be found here.
Detailed information about all Global LEAP Award Winners and Finalists — including product performance data and sales contact information — is available in the 2017 Global LEAP Awards Buyer’s Guide. For additional information, please visit www.GlobalLEAP.org.
Off-Grid Television Competition
Extra Large Television Category
WINNER: Niwa — Solar LED TV 32"
FINALIST: Mobisol GmbH — Solar LED TV 12V DC — 32” (MSDV 3235Y-34635)
Large Television Category
WINNER: Niwa — Solar LED TV 23.6"
FINALISTS:
o BBOXX — 24'’ LED TV (AC0032)
o fosera Group — DC TV 240
o Mobisol GmbH — Solar LED TV 12V DC — 24” (MSDV2335Y-34635)
o Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Ltd. — Powerview 24"
o SolarNow — 23.6" LED LCD HDTV (E236ET8C)
Medium Television Category
WINNER: d.light design — LED TV SV19
FINALISTS:
o MAKS Powertech Ltd — 22M1A (Medium Television Category)
o MAKS Powertech Ltd — 19M1A (Medium Television Category)
o Mobisol GmbH — Solar Home Integrated System 36W-22” (Solar Home TV — 22'’) (Medium Television Category)
o Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Ltd. — Powerview 22" (Medium Television Category)
Small Television Category
WINNER: Niwa — Solar LED TV 15.6"
FINALIST: M-KOPA Solar — M-KOPA 400 (Solar TV STY 1015)
Off-Grid Fan Competition
Small Table Fan Category
WINNER: Metropolitan Electrical Appliance Mfg Co Ltd — 10'’ DC Rechargeable Box fan (MEB-10FD)
FINALISTS:
o Shenzhen Power-Solution Ind. Co., Ltd — 7" Table Fan with Handle (FT-703)
o Metropolitan Electrical Appliance Mfg Co Ltd — 6'’ DC USB Table fan (ME6606-VP)
Large Table Fan Category
WINNER: Super Star Renewable Energy Ltd — Super Star Solar (FT35-DC02A)
FINALIST: Metropolitan Electrical Appliance Mfg Co Ltd — 12'’ DC table fan (MEU12DCT)
Pedestal Fan Category
WINNER: Metropolitan Electrical Appliance Mfg Co Ltd — 16'’ DC stand fan (MEUC16S)
FINALISTS:
o Niwa — ECO Air 16" UP
o Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Ltd. — Powerwing 16" UP (SB-S-16G-A)
o Shenzhen Power-Solution Ind. Co., Ltd — 14"DC Pedestal Fan (FS-7422)
Small Ceiling Fan Category
WINNER: Versa Drives Private Limited — Superfan (SUPER E11)
FINALISTS:
o Basil Energetics Private Limited — iBreez
o Metropolitan Electrical Appliance Mfg Co Ltd — 42'’ ceiling fan (ME-203–42IN)
o Metropolitan Electrical Appliance Mfg Co Ltd — 42'’ ceiling fan (ME-301)
o Versa Drives Private Limited — Superfan (SUPER E1)
Large Ceiling Fan Category
WINNER: Metropolitan Electrical Appliance Mfg Co Ltd — 56'’ ceiling fan (ME-701)
FINALISTS:
o Metropolitan Electrical Appliance Mfg Co Ltd — 48'’ ceiling fan (ME-203–48IN)
o Super Star Renewable Energy Ltd — Super Star Solar (DC-12V56A1)
BACKGROUND
Globally, a total of 1.2 billion people live without adequate access to electricity, and another billion have less than four hours of reliable electricity each day. The vast majority of these off-grid communities are in developing Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, and the people who live in them are frequently among the world’s poorest.
Appliances and the services they provide are in high demand in these off-grid communities. This demand frequently inspires off-grid consumers to purchase small renewable energy systems, such as solar home systems, to run the appliances. These clean energy systems mitigate households’ needs for pre-modern, polluting energy sources such as kerosene, and provide significant health, environmental, and socioeconomic benefits.
High-quality, energy-efficient appliances optimize these benefits by extending run times, reducing energy costs, and improving the energy services available to off-grid consumers.
The purpose of the Global LEAP Awards is to provide clear signals about off-grid appliance quality, suitability, and performance, and to enable companies, investors, and policymakers to make faster, better-informed decisions regarding off-grid appliances.
Media Contact: Jeff Stottlemyer, CLASP, +1.202.750.5589, info@GlobalLEAP.org
