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Digital-energy-challenge-brochure-2022-call-for-projects
Computer Organisation (CS304)
Accra Institute of Technology
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Boosting digital innovation in the energy sector,
by supporting start-ups and power utilities
in Africa
DIGITAL ENERGY
CHALLENGE
CALL FOR PROJECTS 2022
####### SECOND EDITION
Photo © Roland Zanré
All projects must be: DIGITAL i. have telecom, computer or cloud-based technology as a central element of the project. INNOVATIVE either intrinsically or in relation to the local market/country. LOCAL with management activities in the African country where the project is based. In addition, projects must address one of three themes specifically chosen for the 2022 edition.
PROJECT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
An annual budget of € 2M will enable the 2022 awardees to benefit from financial and technical support. The financial contribution can be a maximum of € 150K for a start-up and € 500K for a public utility. This contribution includes grant-based funding and technical assistance to support project management. All winners are invited to participate in a bootcamp with multisectorial experts to support the implementation of their project. In addition, winners can benefit from increased visibility through widespread communication campaigns driven by AFD.
BENEFITS FOR AWARD WINNERS
Start-ups in seed or early-stage activities looking to scale up their digital innovations or digital transformation projects.
Public utilities in partnership with innovative technology/service providers, looking to implement innovative digital projects.
WHO CAN APPLY?
DIGITAL ENERGY CHALLENGE
CALL FOR PROJECTS 2022
Digitalization is key to increase energy
access, integrate renewable energy sources
into the grid and improve the performance
of power utilities, especially in developing
countries. Public utilities, start-ups
and technology providers can boost
digitalization through partnerships and new
business models.
To support the modernization of the energy
sector, the Digital Energy Facility, a European
Union financed programme managed
by AFD, launched the Digital Energy
Challenge in 2021 with an annual Call for
Projects. The geographical focus for the
2022 Call for Projects is Africa due to the
high needs on the continent.
One of the aims of the Digital Energy Facility
is to gather private and public players in the
energy and innovation sectors to facilitate
partnerships to address these topics.
The creation of an online Digital Energy
community in 2022 and the Digital Energy
Challenge and will support such synergies.
HOW TO APPLY?
Choose the category Digital Energy Challenge for Start-ups or Digital Energy Challenge for Utilities.
Participate in the information webinar in English on 17th March 2022 at 3pm CET.
Complete the application form and prepare the required documents.
Submit your complete application online by 30th April 2022. For more information or to be added to the Challenge mailing list please contact us on: contact@afddigitalenergychallenge
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APPLICATION PERIOD
1 st March to 30th April 2022
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR UTILITIES
The project owner must be an African public power utility or organisation (includes public Independent System Operators, power pools, regional organisations, energy regulators and rural electrification authorities).
The innovative technology or service provider must be a national or international registered company, less than 15 years old, with more than 5 full-time employees and a turnover of less than €50M. In addition, the company must have developed an innovative solution to be tested within the Challenge and be in a business relationship with an African utility, supported by a signed (or near date for signature) memorandum of understanding.
BENEFITS FOR UTILITY AWARD WINNERS?
The winning utility partnerships will benefit from: Project funding of up to €500K in the form of a grant to support costs for equipment, software, products or services provided by the technology supplier and training; and technical assistance for project management support, strategic and technical expertise. A joint boot camp with start-up winners and multisectorial experts to support project implementation and foster synergies between project winners. Communication campaigns driven by AFD during the selection, award and release of funds periods.
HOW TO APPLY?
- Download the Utilities Application Pack.
- Participate in the information webinar in English on 17th March 2022 at 3pm.
- Complete the application form and prepare the required documents.
- Submit your complete application online by 30th April 2022.
ARE YOU A PUBLIC POWER UTILITY
LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT A DIGITAL INNOVATION PROJECT?
Does your project contribute to increasing energy access through mini-grids or improving grid management sustainably and with greater cost efficiency? After checking the eligibility criteria, download the application pack and apply online.
Digital Energy Challenge
FOR UTILITIES
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© HOGL
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Digital innovations in the field of mini-grids to maximize their efficiency and impact:
Energy management systems for the optimal use of clean and renewable energy. Storage systems and algorithms minimizing the use of fossil fuel generators. Tools to facilitate interconnections with the main grid and with other mini-grids. Systems and algorithms for building-up nanogrids. Geospatial data analytics for power demand evaluation and/or credit risk assessment.
####### 1. UNIVERSAL ELECTRICITY ACCESS
####### THROUGH MINI-GRIDS
THREE PROJECT THEMES
FOR THE 2022 EDITION
All ancillary services ensuring a proper operation of the power grid, with a focus on:
Information availability and communication systems
— Grid data sharing, IT/OT integration ; — Grid mapping improvement (e. through satellite imagery, GIS database management and interfacing) ; — Adoption of cloud computing and IoT-enabled systems. Streamlining Business-As-Usual grid operational management practices — Optimisation of the assets’ useful life through improved maintenance (digitized and remote maintenance):
- Infrastructure inspection via drones and other new technologies ;
- Active monitoring of the assets’ condition via smart sensors ;
- Data analytics to improve periodic and predictive maintenance.
— Implementation of Dynamic Line Rating (optimising thermal limits according to weather conditions) and analysis of the grid’s risk profile and resilience to extreme events ; — Simulation tools for enhanced training and planning ; — Management and supervision of grid interconnections ; — Digitization of substations and feeders.
####### 2. EFFICIENT GRID MANAGEMENT
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NEXT STEPS
1 st March 2022 Call for Projects opens
17 th March 2022 (3pm-4:30pm CET) Information webinar in English
30 th April 2022 (23:59 CET) Deadline for receipt of applications. All applications must be uploaded via the respective Start-ups or Utilities web pages.
Autumn 2022 Notification of award winners and bootcamp
End 2022 Signature of contracts and release of funds
The Digital Energy Challenge Call for Projects 2022 supports projects in the following countries:
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo Democratic Republic, Congo Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES
Digital Energy Challenge
FOR UTILITIES
Digital Energy Challenge
FOR START-UPS
Project: Georeferencing and mapping method using AI for electrical distribution networks.
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The support of AFD enables us to finance the development of the pilot project and test it in rural and urban environments, which have very different network layouts. This backing adds credibility to the project, enabling us to work closely with all stakeholders, including the national utility, in the technical project tracking committee.
WORDS FROM A CHALLENGE WINNER
Ousmane Fall Sarr, Director of Studies and Planning and Project Lead at the Agence Sénégalaise d’Électrification Rurale (ASER).
CONTACT US
contact@afddigitalenergychallenge
© Stébastien Gracco de Lay
Digital-energy-challenge-brochure-2022-call-for-projects
Course: Computer Organisation (CS304)
University: Accra Institute of Technology
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