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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2016
BUSINESSWORLD
ENERGY
Challenging Youth Entrepreneurs through Shell’s Safer Energy Campaign With the global launch of “#makethefuture” campaign to challenge youth entrepreneurs to generate smart ideas on safer and more sustainable energy solutions, Shell is set to change the face of global energy dynamics, writes Ejiofor Alike
R-L: External Relations Manager, Shell Brazil, Guilherme Monsanto; Global Head of Integrated Brand Communications, Shell, Malena Cutuli; External Relations Manager, Shell Brazil, Glauco Paiva and multiple award-winning Nigerian artist, Yemi Alade, at the inauguration of Shell’s ‘#makethefuture’ campaign in Santa Marta, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil…recently With the increasing demand for energy by the world’s growing population currently estimated at about seven billion, there has been intense international clamour for the development of safer and more sustainable energy solutions to resolve the environmental challenges posed by conventional energy sources and quench the huge appetite of energy-hungry communities that lack access to grid electricity. While the conventional energy sources – gas, petrol and coal- pollute the environment and fuel greenhouse gas emissions, an estimated 1.2 billion people in many communities around the world lack access to grid electricity. Apart from the dangers of pollution and greenhouse gas emission, the traditional sources of energy are also being threatened by depletion, hence they are said to be unsustainable. It is against this background that Shell has launched “#makethefuture” campaign to engage with youth entrepreneurs, inventors, local communities, global celebrities and other relevant stakeholders to transform bright ideas into actions that will create sustainable energy solutions. Under the programme, six technologies have been identified and developed through Shell Eco-Marathon and Shell LiveWIRE programme set up to incentivise businesses that develop clean energy solutions to reduce carbon footprint and promote healthy environment. Pavegen –where one footstep generates 5 Watts Pavegen, which has been installed in Nigeria where Shell built Africa’s first human and solarpowered football pitch at the Federal College of Education, Akoka, Lagos, is a technology that uses footsteps to generate electricity. Founder of Pavegen and British-born Laurence Kemball-Cook said one footstep could generate five watts of energy, which can also be stored for use when needed. Kemball-Cook told THISDAY that he was inspired by his bitter experience in one of the largest energy companies in Europe where he
was disengaged for failing to develop innovative street lighting. Earlier in his speech at the launching of “#makethefurure,” in Rio de Janeiro, Kembell-Cook stated that his idea harnesses kinetic energy generated by footsteps to generate electricity. According to him, before he built Africa’s first human and solar powered football pitch at the Federal College of Education, Akoka, Lagos in Nigeria, Shell and football icon, Pele had helped Pavegen to launch the world’s first people-powered football pitch in Morro da Mineira, a favela in Rio de Janeiro, adding that the technology has been deployed in various high-football locations around the world. Kembell-Cook further disclosed that his organisation had secured a start-up grant from Shell LIVEWIRE Grand Ideas Award Fund, which had helped his business to expand. He had graduated from the Loughborough University where he came up with the concept of generating energy with feet. According to him, after completing his work placement in the company for one year, he was given the task of developing lights from renewable energy but he failed and left the company in shame. The experience motivated him to think innovatively and came up with the fresh idea of developing sustainable and affordable light from footsteps. His major milestone since he founded Pavegen in 2009 was the kinetic pitch he developed with Shell, using footsteps to generate light in a football pitch. The technology is also capable of storing power generated in the day to power the lights when they are needed. He described his collaboration with Shell as positive and pivotal to the growth of his business, pointing out that the Kinetic pitch, which was biggest project he did was with the collaboration of Shell. Shell had given Pavegen grant from the popular Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Award Fund, which funded the expansion of the company.
The technology also clinched an award/prize in Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition and also participated in the Shell Springboard 2013 final. Kemball-Cook said the collaboration had made changes in Nigeria and Brazil and also has a target to make life-changing impacts through the deployment of the technology to change people’s perception of renewable energy. Apart from football pitches, Pavegen has also
While the conventional energy sources – gas, petrol and coal- pollute the environment and fuel greenhouse gas emissions, an estimated 1.2 billion people in many communities around the world lack access to grid electricity
been deployed in transport hubs and shopping centres around the world where there are human traffic to generate footsteps. On the collaboration with global music artists and singers such as Nigeria’s Yemi Alade, Brazil’s Luan Santana and British singer, artist and dancer, Pixie Lott, Laurence said the involvement of these music icons would inspire the youths to align with the vision of recognising the importance of renewable energy for safer environment. Bio-bean, where coffee is refined into biodiesel Bio-bean is a technology that refines coffee oil into biodiesel and biochemicals used for flavours and fragrances. While studying Architecture at the University College, London, Arthur Kay founded Bio-bean, which uses grounded waste coffee to make biodiesel and biomass pellets. Kay was given a task of designing a coffee shop as an undergraduate when he realised the oil content in coffee and the huge waste produced, which was estimated at 200,000 tonnes yearly just in London alone. According to him, he was holding a cup of coffee and noticed the oily coffee skein on the top and got inspired to investigate what the coffee waste could be used for. That was how the 25-year-old set about to form Bio-bean, which currently employs over 30 and had raised three million pounds in financing in the first two years of business. His target is to fuel London’s transport system with biodiesel, which is already being used by many buses in London. Bio-bean relies on a principle known as “Urban Mining” and targets to design sustainable cities. Kay won Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Award, the Innovation Award and was a finalist in the 2013 Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year category. Continued on page 29