Emmanuel Kofi Acheampong

Ghanaian renewable energy pioneer who brought solar power to rural West Africa through community-based microgrids

Emmanuel Kofi Acheampong, born in 1978 in Accra, Ghana, is the founder of SolarizeNow, a company that has installed over 15,000 solar systems in off-grid communities across West Africa. His work addresses the continent's energy deficit, where 560 million people lack electricity access.

Acheampong's innovation lies in creating microgrid systems managed by local cooperatives, ensuring community ownership and sustainability. His model combines solar panels with battery storage and mobile payment systems, allowing users to pay small daily fees via mobile money platforms like M-Pesa.

After studying electrical engineering in Nigeria, he returned to Ghana in 2003 to pilot his first solar project in the Volta Region. Today, his company operates in 12 countries, reducing kerosene use by 70% in served areas while creating 3,000 green jobs. The World Bank's Energy Africa project has adopted his microgrid framework.

Acheampong's TED Talk on decentralized energy systems has influenced policy in Kenya and Sierra Leone. His work exemplifies how localized renewable solutions can drive both environmental and economic progress in developing regions.