Company Announcement - WWF South Africa today launched the 2014/15 round of the organisation’s international Climate Solver Awards competition. Now in its second year in South Africa, the awards have become a valuable opportunity for small businesses to showcase their innovative technologies that reduce carbon emissions and boost energy access. Last year’s South African winners were Agriprotein Technologies, that produce animal feed from fly larvae to replace fishmeal, SolarTurtle, an off-the-grid solution for rural communities, and Rhino Modified Wood, high-density wood made from South African pine to replace imported hardwoods. Climate Solver acknowledges the critical role clean technology (‘clean tech’) businesses have to play in driving the transition from a high fossil-fuel economy to a clean, renewable energy economy and was developed to raise awareness for these essential technologies and to communicate the value of innovation as an immediate and practical solution to climate change.

After the success of the South African Climate Solver Awards in 2013/14, WWF-SA is calling for nominations for the next round of the challenge, inviting small and medium enterprises active in the climate innovation space to submit entries by 30 January 2015. Entries should comprise innovative low-carbon technologies that reduce carbon emissions, as well as sustainable clean energy solutions that enhance energy access. 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 tonnes per year by 2022 or significantly contribute to improving energy access.

Following a rigorous adjudication process, up to four Climate Solvers will be selected and their technologies showcased at an award ceremony in April 2015. WWF-SA will also produce a short video of each of the selected technologies that will be featured on the South African and International WWF Climate Solver webpages, and which the enterprise can use for promotional purposes.

WWF-SA Special Projects Manager Louise Scholtz says: “The Global Cleantech Innovation Index 2014 demonstrates that countries get ahead if they are connecting start-ups with multiple channels – such as multinational corporates and public procurement – to increase their success rates; and increasing international engagement to spur widespread adoption of clean technologies. WWF-SA views the Climate Solver platform as a means to facilitate these outcomes.”