Abdulaziz Alhassan

Ghanaian inventor creating solar solutions for off-grid communities

Abdulaziz Alhassan is a Ghanaian innovator whose solar energy solutions have electrified over 500,000 homes in West Africa since 2020. His company Sunlight Ghana developed the SolarPod - a portable solar unit that costs 60% less than traditional systems while providing 24/7 energy through integrated battery storage. The project won the 2021 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation from the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Alhassan's breakthrough came in 2022 with the Solar Mosque Project, converting 1200 mosques into community power hubs. Each mosque's rooftop solar array provides energy for prayers, education, and charging mobile devices for surrounding villages. This model was replicated in 8 other African countries through partnerships with religious organizations.

In 2023, he launched Energize Africa, a social enterprise training women as solar technicians. Over 3,000 women have completed the program, creating 600+ micro-businesses. His work was highlighted in the New York Times' 2024 series on renewable energy pioneers and earned him the 2023 African Engineer of the Year award.