#connect2evolve

More than 630 million people lack electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa. When not connected to a grid, they often produce their required energy from inefficient diesel generators, which are neither economically nor ecologically suitable. With the donation sum of € 301,046 we start together the change by connecting more than 2,000 people in Bacco Ndieme, Senegal to a sustainable, green energy source. This project is being realized through the active support of more than 240 donors from around the world.

The donation amount will be used for the implementation of a Solartainer® including a storage battery, the construction of a mini-grid and the installation of the smart meters. The entire infrastructure will be handed over to the village and managed by a local cooperative. The residents of Bacco Ndieme pay the local electricity price. The income received is used for the operation and maintenance of the entire system. Apart from the households, the most important consumers are the local school and a health station.

The energy market is not only changing in its offerings, but also in adapting to new business models. #connect2evolve is a combination of both. It includes new offerings such as carbon-free energy supply and is opening itself to impact investors and new customers. Private people are empowered to invest in power supply – be they local people who are actually benefiting from the Solartainer® or me living in Dubai knowing that I actively support a carbon-neutral energy supply. The first project is a donation to electrify a complete village in Senegal. A win–win situation for everyone involved.

By taking a closer look at the project area, the daily life issues – due to the lack of energy – become even more tangible. The community of Bacco Ndieme in Senegal is located in a valley where the water table is about three to four meters below ground. To pump water, people need power. This is just one simple example as to why electricity is so crucial. Indeed, it facilitates many aspects of daily life, such as refrigeration of food and medicine, milling grain and small-scale trade.

Founded by a self-organized initiative of Siemens Energy employees, the concept of providing electricity to places which are not connected to the national grid has quickly spread in the company, and beyond, gaining a lot of traction among fellow companions eager to finally bring this vision to life. The project opens the possibility for Siemens Energy employees, as well as their families and friends, to participate while having a measurable impact on improving life in Senegal.

Blockchain technology provides transparency and trackability of donations; all transactions are immutable. A smart contract enables participants to track their donations and see the positive impact they helped achieve. Using blockchain technology, contributors can track their donation from any part of the world, from the day they made it to the final implementation stage, and beyond. In simple words, donors can directly follow the impact of their efforts.

Founded in 2016, the organization “Africa GreenTec Help e.V.” is primarily active in West Africa, focusing on renewable energy, education and medical care. Through its work on the ground, led by the local teams and supported by local partners, it not only combats the causes of flight but also pursues the United Nations' goals of sustainable development. Africa GreenTec Help e.V. promotes and initiates projects such as qualitative education, equipping medical stations in rural areas and the dissemination of renewable energy supply systems. Africa GreenTec Help e.V. is an independent and non-profit association. It is the donation recipient of the campaign for the electrification of Bacco Ndieme. Africa GreenTec Help e.V. carries out the project on its own responsibility.

The company was founded by entrepreneur Torsten Schreiber and his wife Aida. After visiting a diesel power plant in Mali, they were shocked by its high inefficiency due to the loss of up to 90% of primary energy, and by the extremely high air pollution. As a consequence, they decided to take action by launching the company in 2014. Since then, the couple and their ever-growing team of 80 employees have already provided clean energy to more than 100,000 people through the installation of about 20 Solartainer®.

The #connect2evolve community consists of all project members. These are the donors, the non-profit association Africa GreenTec Help e.V., Africa GreenTec and Siemens Energy. Africa GreenTec Help e.V. has initiated the appeal for donations. The direct recipient of the donations is Africa GreenTec Help e.V. With the help of the donations, the Solartainer® will be bought at Africa GreenTec and the installation will be ordered. Siemens Energy is supporting this project with its expertise in digitization by making its direct influence visible to donors via Blockchain by means of an informative impact token.

The name combines the two goals we are aiming for: First, we want to connect the community of donors with the local community in Senegal. Donors can participate by helping to finance a power generation project which the community of Bacco Ndieme in Senegal will directly benefit from. Second, both the donors and the local community can evolve and grow in experience. The community will benefit from the sustainable, clean and permanently available energy, allowing them also participate in the new world of digitalization as well as to build or expand their local businesses. Donors can follow this development. The delivered energy will become visible for each donor through impact tokens.

Siemens Energy and our partners Africa GreenTec Help e.V. and Africa GreenTec want to support countries such as Senegal in the realm of sustainable socio-economic development. Our partners have a broad range of experience as well as access to Senegal and to the necessary network for successful project implementation. The village of Bacco Ndieme in Senegal was recommended by Africa GreenTec Help e.V. and ensures proper due diligence. Here are the reasons for implementing the electrification project in Bacco Ndieme:

There is a need for clean power generation especially in Bacco Ndieme as they are not connected to the national grid.
The community of Bacco Ndieme plan to become a green village (agriculture without pesticides)
The government of Senegal is open for private partnership regarding sustainable electrification and digitalization of the country.
The political situation in Senegal is relatively stable.
Senegal is close to Mali, a country in which Africa GreenTec is already established.

When the fundraising target is reached, Africa GreenTec Help e.V. will purchase the Solartainer® from Africa GreenTec and have it installed in Bacco Ndieme in Senegal. Africa GreenTec Help e.V. is a non-profit association and ensures that the donations are used exclusively for this project. With Africa GreenTec we have a respected and trustworthy partner at our side who delivers and installs the Solartainer®. Africa GreenTec has already installed more than 20 Solartainer® in Mali.

When the Solartainer® starts generating electricity, virtual impact tokens will be generated. The tokens represent the delivered kilowatt hours (kWh) of renewable energy and can be converted into saved CO₂ emissions. The conversion takes place in comparison to the power generated by diesel generators. The impact token has only an information value, it can neither be traded nor transferred. The information documented in the token is visualized on a website accessible only to the respective donor. A legal claim to impact token does not exist.

#connect2evolve

How to close the gap in energy infrastructure

A unique opportunity: Your donation makes a difference

Together, we’re headed into transformation

See how your donation translates into real-life impact

Get to know our #connect2evolve partners

Questions are always welcome

Join the movement!

#connect2evolve

How to close the gap in energy infrastructure

A unique opportunity: Your donation makes a difference

Together, we’re headed into transformation

See how your donation translates into real-life impact

Get to know our #connect2evolve partners

Questions are always welcome

Who is the recipient of the donations?

Who is the #connect2evolve community?

What does #connect2evolve mean?

Why did the project team select the village of Bacco Ndieme in Senegal?

How is it ensured that my donation is used exclusively for the construction of the Solartainer® in Bacco Ndieme in Senegal?

What are “impact tokens”?

Since it is a donation, who owns the Solartainer®?

Join the movement!

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