Fikirte Gebre

Ethiopian engineer pioneering solar energy solutions for rural electrification

Fikirte Gebre (b. 1988) is an Ethiopian electrical engineer whose company Sunrise Energy Solutions has brought solar power to 1.2 million people in off-grid regions. Her 2021 documentary chronicled her team's development of solar microgrids costing 70% less than market rates. Featured in National Geographic's 2023 Innovators List, her peer-reviewed research on hybrid solar-wind systems has been adopted by UNICEF's rural electrification programs. In 2024, she launched the African Women in Renewable Energy Network, connecting 1,500+ professionals across 15 countries. Her partnership with Kenya's Energy Regulatory Commission created the first East African solar tariff policy framework. TED's 2025 talk emphasized her vision of 100% renewable African energy grids by 2035.