Search for green energy ideas that fly

Published Nov 27, 2014

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Cape Town - The last competition saw turtles, rhinos and flies take the top prize, and this year WWF South Africa is hoping for even more novel entries into its annual Climate Solver Awards.

The competition, now in its second year, is a chance for local businesses to show off innovative “green” technologies geared towards reducing carbon emissions and boost energy access.

The winner will ultimately be endorsed by the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Rhino Modified Wood co-founder Stuart Prior said the endorsement was invaluable. Last year, the company was among three to win the competition. Since then, the business – which had barely begun to establish itself as a commercial enterprise before the award – has been going from strength to strength, he said.

“The award played a role in our growth.”

Their product, a high-durability and non-toxic timber used in place of typical tropical hardwoods, was picked out by judges because it was a viable alternative to the red meranti sourced from the rainforest which is typically used in construction. The WWF said using this product would contribute to slowing rapid deforestation.

Prior said winning the competition was an acknowledgement that not only was his product “green”, but that it was also better than other offerings at the time.

“Having an organisation such as the WWF behind us is huge,” he said. “It has really helped in our marketing aspect.”

AgriProtein Technologies, a Cape Town company, won the competition by using fly eggs to replace the use of fish in its animal feed. Known as Magmeal, the WWF said the product was estimated to emit 81 percent less greenhouse gases than fishmeal.

This is because producing fishmeal requires ocean trawling and long-distance transportation. Magmeal is created inside a facility by mass-rearing flies to produce eggs. The larvae, which feed on organic waste, are a good source of protein.

AgriProtein’s Jason Drew said the award had been a driving force behind the company’s expansion overseas.

The final winner was the SolarTurtle. The brainchild of company Ugesi Gold, which operates out of Stellenbosch, the aim was to give people affordable electricity off the grid. Packaged in a shipping container, the container unfolds during the day to charge numerous battery packs via solar power. These battery packs can be taken to where they are needed to provide electricity to power lights or appliances.

Its creators said the SolarTurtle would help reduce the use of kerosene, the primary energy source in many rural areas, while increasing access to cheaper and “greener” electricity.

Now the WWF is calling for new nominations to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winners. Entries to the competition are open until January 30.

“Companies entering must own the technology, have developed the product to post-pilot stage and have clear business plans for developing and promoting the product. The technology must be currently available to the market and able to deliver carbon emissions reduction about 20 million tons per year by 2022 or significantly contribute to improving energy access,” said the WWF’s special projects manager Louise Scholtz.

Cape Argus

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