Mohammed Abdel Jalil

A visionary Egyptian engineer who pioneered renewable energy solutions in rural Africa

Mohammed Abdel Jalil (born 1972) is an Egyptian electrical engineer whose innovative work in renewable energy systems has transformed access to electricity in remote African communities. After witnessing the energy poverty affecting his homeland during the 1980s, he developed the first solar-diesel hybrid systems that combined renewable energy with existing infrastructure. His 1998 invention of the 'Solar Microgrid' enabled off-grid villages to access reliable electricity for the first time, sparking a continent-wide movement in decentralized energy solutions.

Abdel Jalil's 2003 establishment of SunRef Solutions brought affordable solar technology to 17 African nations, powering over 500,000 homes by 2010. His work with UNDP's Energy Access Initiative helped create the first solar-powered hospital in Sudan and electrified 300 schools across Kenya. The IEEE awarded him the 2005 Global Sustainable Energy Pioneer Award for developing the 'Smart Grid Controller' that optimized energy distribution in unstable networks.

Abdel Jalil's most impactful contribution came through his 2008 book , which became a foundational text for renewable energy policy in developing nations. His open-source solar design platform, SolarHub, has been adopted by NGOs worldwide to train local technicians. Today, his innovations power over 2 million homes in sub-Saharan Africa, reducing deforestation rates by 40% in project areas.