Home 5 News 5 International label championing profitable cleantech solutions invites South African companies to apply

7 July 2020

GreenCape has officially entered into a collaboration with the Solar Impulse Foundation through the International Cleantech Network (ICN), to support its mission of selecting 1 000 clean and profitable solutions which contribute to protecting the environment. GreenCape is the South African contact point to assist local cleantech companies to apply to join the Solar Impulse Foundation 1 000 Efficient Solutions Label portfolio.

 

The Solar Impulse Foundation, initiated by Swiss explorer and psychiatrist Bertrand Piccard following his round-the-world solar flight, has launched a bold challenge: to find, select and promote 1000 cleantech solutions that have both positive economic and environmental impacts on the world. One of the first to envision ecology through the lens of profitability, Bertrand Piccard aims to show the economic opportunities of clean technologies. The Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label is designed to shed light on existing solutions that are both clean and profitable and have a positive impact on quality of life.

 

Through this ICN collaboration, the Solar Impulse Foundation and GreenCape share a common goal to support the development and implementation at scale of clean technologies, and encourage decision-makers around the world to adopt impact-oriented environmental regulations and energy policies.

 

Companies with innovative cleantech solutions seeking increased competitiveness and global network expansion, especially after being constrained by the Covid-19 pandemic, are encouraged to apply for the #1000Solutions label. The Solar Impulse Foundation aims to help the cleantech innovators behind the efficient solutions in order to accelerate their companies’ success.

 

Once the solutions are labelled, the Solar Impulse Foundation provides support on six specific levels, on an international scale:

 

  • better access to market,
  • more appeal to financial investors,
  • support in advocacy work,
  • feedback from industry experts,
  • more credibility and
  • greater global visibility.

 

Identifying solutions

 

Solutions are categorised according to the five following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

 

SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

SDG 9 Industry Innovation and Infrastructure

SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

 

Assessing solutions

 

Solutions are assessed from a technical and financial standpoint, and in accordance with the following criteria:

 

  • Feasibility (Credibility or Design & Scalability)
  • Environment (Environmental Benefits)
  • Profitability (Clients’ economic incentive & Seller’s profitability)

 

Labelled solutions undergo a rigorous assessment based on a verified methodology and against several criteria performed by external independent experts. Once labelled, solutions join the #1000Solutions portfolio and access exclusive benefits, such as events, business and investment opportunities, and communication support.

 

GreenCape, a member of the International Cleantech Network, supports the Solar Impulse Foundation’s mission by encouraging cleantech companies in its local ecosystem to submit their solutions to the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label. Jarrod Lyons, Investment Promotion Officer at GreenCape, is the local Solution Scouter. Companies that are interested to find out more can get in touch at jarrod[at]greencape.co.za.

 

Applications can be done directly via the Solar Impulse Foundation website (Please reference International Cleantech Network) – https://solarimpulse.com/efficient-solutions.

 

Recommended social media post: Companies with efficient, clean and profitable solutions that have a positive impact on environment and quality of life can apply online to join the Solar Impulse #1000Solutions Label portfolio: – https://solarimpulse.com/efficient-solutions @ICN_Secretariat @solarimpulse @thegreencape