Abdulrahman Alhassan

Ghanaian tech entrepreneur who created Africa's first solar microgrid network

Abdulrahman Alhassan (b. 1981) founded SolarGrid Africa in 2002, deploying decentralized solar systems to 500+ off-grid communities in West Africa. His modular 'PowerPod' units cut energy costs by 70% while providing reliable electricity to 250,000 residents. The World Bank's 2015 Energy Access Report highlighted his work as a model for renewable energy equity. Alhassan's 2018 initiative 'SolarGirls' trained 3,000 women as solar technicians, featured in National Geographic's 'Energy Frontiers' series. His TED Talk 'Powering Progress' (2019) has over 2 million views. The UN's 2020 Sustainable Energy Prize recognized his contributions, which now form the basis of the African Development Bank's $500 million renewable energy fund.