In an exclusive interview with the United States Commercial Service, hosted by Power Africa, RIFE President, and CEO, Kwabena Osei-Sarpong highlighted Africa’s accelerated growth and the need for energy efficiency and renewable technologies to open up new avenues for innovation in the clean energy sector, at the Enlit Africa Conference, in South Africa.
Over the years, RIFE has been at the forefront of Africa’s renewable energy and clean energy transformation. The Ghana division of the company is positioned as a high-growth green solutions company, with a niche focus on solar energy, energy efficiency and green construction services for its commercial and industrial(C&I) clients, as well as Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).
It focuses on providing solar energy services to help customers decarbonize electricity supply, whiles offering significant cost savings. The company offers solar energy installation to customers with no upfront capital expenditure, which combined with immediate energy cost savings unlocks capital for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to expand their businesses, hire more people, hence creating jobs and contributing to the socio-economic growth.
This financed solar energy solution, when installed for the customer immediately presents opportunities to reduce energy cost, while reducing the emission of CO2 in accordance with Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 11, Affordable and Clean Energy, and Sustainable Cities and Communities respectfully.
The parent company, RIFE International is a globally focused award-winning energy efficiency, sustainability, and renewable energy firm, that helps organizations develop, adopt and implement clean energy, sustainable construction, and energy efficiency best practices in projects. The company’s services deliver significant long-term savings, vastly improve access to affordable power in developing areas of the world and improve human conditions globally.
With this, RIFE also focusses on alternative financial structures through its collaboration with Development Finance Institutions (DFI’s), Clean Energy Funds and other Fortune 500 organizations that can enhance deal flows towards clean energy access in sub-Saharan Africa.
Kwabena Osei-Sarpong (RIFE Intl CEO, Cynthia A. Griffin,Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mark Carrato -Power Africa Cordinator,USA
Osei-Sarpong, the CEO and Founder of RIFE International, is at the forefront of pioneering energy efficiency and clean energy solutions in the United States and globally. Acknowledged as a “Climate Trailblazer” by the Harvard Business School Climate Symposium, Osei-Sarpong has also received several awards for his work in sustainability including the Apex Power 30 under 30, Washington Business Journal’s 40 under 40, Association of Energy Engineers – Energy Innovator of the Year, Maryland Business Adapts Honoree, Global Leadership Award in Customer Excellence – JCI, Top 100 MBE in the U.S, Radford University Outstanding Alumnus 2021, among others.
Osei-Sarpong serves on the United States Department of Commerce Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee (REEEAC), where he advises the Secretary regarding the development and administration of programs and policies to expand the competitiveness of U.S. exports of renewable energy and energy efficiency goods and services, in accordance with applicable United States regulations.
Enlit Africa, formerly Africa Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa held its Annual African Clean Energy Conference, between the 7th to 9th of June 2022, on the theme; ‘Collaboration to fast forward Africa’s Energy Transition’, at Cape Town’s Cape Town International Convention Center (CTICC). This brought together high-level speakers, industry leaders, top CEOs, and heads of international organizations across the globe to innovate and lead the discourse on modernizing Africa’s Energy and Water Economy, through expert led content, business-driven experiences , networking and strategic alliance within the industry.
The conference placed a strong emphasis on the importance of Clean Energy in Africa and accelerating the clean energy transition in areas of clean tech, partnerships, project development among others.
Other participants included the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) ,EXIM Bank, United States Department of Commerce, Power Africa , Eskom, Planning Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, South Africa and the Department of Science and Technology, South Africa.
