Eleven innovators from across Africa have been shortlisted for the 2026 Future of Energy Conference Innovation Challenge, which seeks to promote African-led solutions to the continent’s energy transition and sustainable industrial development.
The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), in partnership with Africa Change Lab (ACL), said the finalists were selected after a competitive review of applications from innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs and engineers across the continent.
The challenge focuses on solutions addressing energy transition, climate resilience, sustainable industrialisation and critical mineral value addition.
The finalists will compete across two tracks: the Pan-African Low Carbon Track and the AfroHackathon Track.
The Pan-African Low Carbon Track finalists are Blessing Unoka of Nigeria, whose project focuses on solar-powered fortified food processing and an integrated biodigester waste-to-energy system; Kenya’s Godfrey Noel, who developed AgriKonnekt, an offline climate finance infrastructure for smallholder carbon markets in East Africa; and Kenyan innovator Rhyl Kiio, whose project combines containerised pay-as-you-go adsorbed biogas with digital measurement, reporting and verification for off-grid communities.
Others include shortlisted in the track are Tanzania’s Tatu Kassim, who is developing biodegradable packaging from banana waste, and Kenya’s Tracy Achieng, whose KilimoChills Solution targets energy challenges in agriculture.
The AfroHackathon Track finalists include Nigeria’s AbdulBasit Bashir, developer of AfreVolt, a circular battery solution, and Kenya’s Brian Mwai, whose REVLOG project focuses on the safe and traceable recovery and second-life use of retired lithium batteries.
Ghana’s Christopher Amewuho was shortlisted for AfroCycle, a closed-loop battery recycling and critical mineral recovery initiative, while Nigeria’s Joshua Ebinabo War is developing Lenol, a network of solar-powered battery-swapping hubs in densely populated urban markets.
Tanzania’s Modester Nanyunga, through SolarPay Swap Hubs, is developing a community-owned solar battery-swapping system aimed at supporting sustainable fishing livelihoods in coastal communities.
Kenya’s Priscila Adhiambo was also shortlisted for Pamoja Cell, which focuses on using second-life battery modules for off-grid cold storage.
The projects cover renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, battery recycling, energy storage, circular economy solutions, climate technology and productive uses of energy.
ACEP and ACL said the finalists demonstrated the diversity and entrepreneurial capacity of African innovators seeking to address energy and development challenges through locally driven solutions.
The shortlisted innovators will proceed to the next stage of the challenge, where they will receive further engagement and prepare to pitch their projects to policymakers, investors, researchers, development partners and industry leaders.
The final pitch event will take place during the Future of Energy Conference 2026 in Accra, Ghana, from Aug. 25-26.
The challenge is supported by ACEP, ACL and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Timbuktoo Initiative, with the partners seeking to strengthen African innovation ecosystems and promote sustainable energy and industrial development.
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