CONTRACTORS’ CORNER
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English-speaking Africa’s brightest battery innovators announced
(ChargeAgain, EUR1,000): Repurposing discarded vehicle batteries for sustainable solar storage in rural communities. South Africa First place – BioWatt (University of the Witwatersrand, EUR2,000): Harnessing microbial fuel cells and efficient circuits to generate electricity from organic waste while promoting STEM education and reducing e-waste. Second plac e – EcoVolt Innovation (University of the Witwatersrand, EUR1,500): Pioneering sodium-ion and solid-state hybrid batteries using recycled materials, AI-powered monitoring, and community training. Third place – Shared by Renewa Fuels (Cape Peninsula University of Technology) & BioGlux (Sefako Makgatho University, EUR1,000 shared), Renewa Fuels: Converting biodiesel by-products into bio-batteries; and BioGlux: A biodegradable, glucose-powered medical implant battery. “These innovations demonstrate the ingenuity and determination of English-speaking Africa’s youth to reimagine the energy landscape. This year’s entrants were all winners in their own right and we wish them all the success to take their innovations forward,” says Letitia de Wet, CEO and country director of Enactus South Africa.
2025 winners This year’s Battery Innovation
Challenge winners demonstrated technical ingenuity, community relevance, and strong potential for scaling impact and have received Euro cash prizes from the Schneider Electric Foundation: Zimbabwe First place – University of Zimbabwe (LithiumX, EUR2,000): Low-cost recycling of lithium-ion batteries using eco-friendly hydrometallurgy. Second place – National University of Science and Technology (Ukukhanya 2.0, EUR1,500): Affordable solid-state sodium–air hybrid battery delivering clean, off-grid community power. Third place – Harare Institute of Technology (PowerPulse, EUR1,000): Aluminium–air chemistry battery using recycled aluminium and organic waste- based cathodes. Kenya First place – Strathmore University (Afya Cell, EUR2,000): AI-powered battery health analyser that extends battery life for electric vehicles, solar, and IoT systems. Second place – Meru University (E-Waste Management Through Renewable Energy Integration, EUR1,500): Recovering lithium-ion batteries from e-waste for affordable community solar storage. Third place – Machakos University
like the “Power the Community 2025 International Design Competition” and are now a registered company that also joined the Emerging Circular Leaders programme, sparking national conversations on circular economy innovation. • South Africa: Airnergy & Tech Solutions, third-place winners, have successfully commercialised their innovation. The success of Airnergy & Tech Solutions Indicative of the programme’s success is Airnergy & Tech Solutions, which has gone on to successfully commercialise their solution, ElectroBoost300, a 300 W portable power station, now on Takealot (South Africa’s largest online retailer), providing reliable lithium-based storage for households, students, and small businesses. “Schneider Electric believed in us. Their support and funding helped Airnergy & Tech build a viable product, and that gave our team the confidence to keep pushing forward with sustainable energy innovation,” says Neo Moabi of Airnergy & Tech Solutions. “The Battery Innovation Challenge is proof that with the right support, students in our region can create scalable, sustainable solutions that accelerate today and tomorrow’s energy transition. We are proud to form part of this truly life-changing initiative,” adds Elihle Obi, marketing communications and corporate citizenship director, English- speaking Africa at Schneider Electric.
Schneider Electric, together with Enactus, the international NGO dedicated to inspiring students through entrepreneurial action, has announced the winners of the 2025 Energy Transition Battery Innovation Challenge, funded by the Schneider Electric Foundation. This year’s first-place winners exemplify the ingenuity and impact of youth-led innovation across the region and are: • South Africa: BioWatt from the University of the Witwatersrand • Kenya: Strathmore University with Afya Cell • Nigeria: Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University with Energiv • Zimbabwe: University of Zimbabwe’s LithiumX project Now in its second year, the Battery Innovation Challenge was conceived by a South African Schneider Electric engineer and is funded by the Schneider Electric Foundation. It empowers young innovators to design battery solutions addressing the region’s most pressing energy challenges. The initiative also forms part of the Foundation’s New Skills for the Future and Innovation programme. The programme also celebrates the continued success of the 2024 winners, who have used the Schneider Electric Foundation prize money to further develop their concepts, including: • Zimbabwe: Second-place winner, Bindura • Kenya: The winning team, Afterlife, provides second-life applications by repurposing and recycling worn-out batteries. They also won other awards with their solution, commercial markets T he Switch Ultra Range, a new collection of wiring accessories designed for residential and commercial applications, has been developed for the South African market. Available in white and graphite finishes, the range introduces a slimline aesthetic characterised by integrated fluorescent inserts for improved visibility in low-light conditions. Manufactured locally by CBi-electric: low voltage, the series prioritises practical application for contractors, featuring captive screws across the product line to simplify the fitting process while ensuring a clean, screwless final profile. The Switch Ultra collection covers a broad spectrum of electrical requirements, including: • Light switches: Available in 2 x 4 and 4 x 4 configurations with 1 to 4 lever options. All units feature standard 2-way switching for flexible control. • Switched socket outlets: Options range from standard single and double outlets to versatile SA/ EU combined units. The range also addresses modern connectivity with USB Type-A and Type-C options (rated: 250 Vac, 16 A, IP20). • Disconnectors and isolators: Purpose- built switch disconnectors are available for heavy-load appliances, including stove isolators (2- and 3-pole, 60 A) and geyser isolators (2-pole, 30 A). • Switch inserts: The range allows for enhanced flexibility with inserts including dimmers, 2P switches, and intermediate switches. • Grid and blanking plates: Available in both 2 x 4 and 4 x 4 configurations with multiple
Enquiries: www.se.com/za/en/
SPARKS ADVERT DEC 2025.pdf 1 01/12/2025 12:47
Switch Ultra wiring accessories range launches for the residential and
lever options to accommodate custom installations. A 12-month warranty backs all products in the Switch Ultra Range. The line is now available through authorised distributors.
Enquiries: https://cbi-lowvoltage.co.za
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SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS
JANUARY 2026
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