A mid-term review of the Global LEAP Awards Off-Grid Refrigerator Competition, aimed at spurring the development of energy-efficient fridges that are affordable and suitable for poor communities in off-grid areas, has offered the implementers the opportunity to reflect on outcomes and lessons learned.

The 2016-17 Global LEAP Awards Off-Grid Refrigerator Competition, which seeks to identify the world’s best, most energy-efficient refrigerators designed for compatibility with off-grid solar energy systems, is a joint initiative of Global LEAP, USAID, U.K. Department for International Development and Power Africa.

Energy 4 Impact is the implementing partner under the Ideas 2 Impact initiative – a DfID-funded five year, £10.9m programme that supports through a variety of innovation prizes designed to stimulate and incentivise development of technologies for low income consumers that will improve poor people’s access to affordable clean energy, safe drinking water and resilience to climate change.

Launched in 2017, the competition received 57 nominations from 38 organisations across 12 countries. 24 products were shortlisted and winners were announced at the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum and Expo in Hong Kong, in January 2018. The winners received a cash prizes of $200,000.

The 19 best products have made it to the next phase: the field testing, which will be conducted in Uganda. Based on the results, the third innovation prize ($200,000) awarding the most appropriate design and best user experience will be granted in July 2018.

Outcome and lessons from the project’s implementation were summarised in two blog posts on the Ideas to Impact’s website and include:

• Setting benchmarks and helping to accelerate this new solar refrigeration market;
• Assessing the fridges’ potential of commercial success based on field testing and customers’ feedback, which in turn increases manufacturers’ credibility vis a vis Investors; 
• Proving the effectiveness and value for money of prizes, designed to stimulate and influence innovative solutions to challenges faced by people in the world’s poorest areas;
• Promoting collaborations among donors and competitors;
• Reaching problem solvers amongst new audiences;
• Setting the right incentives to participate

Read the full articles:  
SIX KEY ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR ENERGY ACCESS COMPETITION
HALFWAY THROUGH OUR ENERGY ACCESS COMPETITION: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNT?