– Wits Enterprise
Wits spin-out company has been named the Energy Supply Track winner in this competition by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
The IEEE Empower a Billion Lives competition is a global initiative that recognizes scalable solutions that expand access to electricity for underserved communities around the world. Launched in 2019, it addresses one of the world’s most urgent development challenges: more than one billion people still live without reliable access to electricity. The competition brings together innovators from around the world to develop practical, affordable and scalable energy solutions for communities beyond the reach of the traditional power grid.
The success of Peko Power highlights the growing impact of university-driven innovation emerging from South Africa and strengthens the University of the Witwatersrand’s role in translating research into real-world social solutions.
“This recognition confirms that African-developed solutions can compete and win on the global stage,” said Professor Willy Cronje, from the School of Electrical and Information Engineering at Wits and one of the founders of Peco Power. “Peco Power was created to address the real challenge of electricity access in disadvantaged communities, and this award validates both the technology and its impact.”
For the 2025 EBL competition, Peco Power presented a peer-to-peer electricity trading model built on its modular, off-grid power units. The solution was demonstrated in Ermelo, where Peco Power has already deployed standalone energy systems. Rather than operating as separate units, homes are enabled to share and trade electricity locally, creating a growing, community-based energy network that expands organically as more units are added. This approach allows large-scale energy access, one home at a time, without the need for large, centralized infrastructure investments.
Across Africa, millions of homes are not connected to the national grid, instead relying on unsafe and expensive alternatives such as candles, paraffin or illegal connections. The absence of reliable electricity is limiting access to education, health care, security, and economic opportunities. By providing modular, off-grid solutions designed specifically for low-income and remote communities, Peco Power enables communities to leapfrog traditional infrastructure. barriers, delivering safe, affordable and reliable power where it is needed most.
The judges in the final round of the competition highlighted the practicality and deployment-ready nature of Peco Power’s solution. Unlike many theoretical concepts, systems are already working in communities and providing measurable value. The judges also noted the solution’s strong potential for large-scale impact, particularly its ability to scale incrementally and its innovation in enabling local energy markets through peer-to-peer trading.
In addition to the international recognition, Peco Power received a US$50,000 award, which will be used to accelerate deployment, refine the technology, and expand access to electricity to more communities. Professor Cronje said, “Energy access is not a luxury; it is the foundation of dignity, development and economic participation.” “This award strengthens our ability to scale impact and reach more communities faster.”
About Peco Power
Peco Power is a spin-out company of the University of the Witwatersrand focused on making electricity accessible, affordable and reliable for communities excluded from the traditional power grid. Through modular, scalable energy systems, Peco Power provides sustainable energy solutions that improve quality of life and unlock economic opportunity across Southern Africa. Visit https://www.pecopower.co.za/ for more information.
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