Capetown, Western Cape (November 13, 2024) — Asoba, a utility scale Virtual Power Plant Company, today announced it has been selected as a fellow in the second cohort of the Compute for Climate Fellowship. Launched by International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI) and Amazon Web Services (AWS), the Compute for Climate Fellowship is a global program offering climate tech startups fully-funded proof of concepts using advanced cloud computing to tackle some of the most complex challenges related to the climate crisis.
This opportunity will support Asoba’s efforts to streamline and enhance energy forecasting and electricity dispatch through a fully integrated, end-to-end system powered by AWS Cloud. From data ingestion to autonomous grid management our solution is designed to meet the needs of a dynamic energy landscape, providing reliable tools for stakeholders including Energy Traders, Independent Power Producers (IPPs), and Municipalities.
Asoba is committed to advancing sustainable energy practices by enabling more efficient, data-driven decisions. We aim to establish a model that demonstrates how smart infrastructure—integrating AWS services, smart meters, controllers, and real-time data analytics—can transform energy management. Ultimately, our goal is to expand this framework, supporting widespread adoption and empowering energy stakeholders to optimize resources, reduce costs, and foster resilient, sustainable energy systems globally.
This project is a foundational step in achieving our vision: Optimising Africa’s essential public utilities to unlock sustainable economic growth for Africa and the world.
“Even though we are considered a climate company because we deal with renewables and integrate renewables, our primary focus is on human and economic development. We cannot achieve any of the development goals that we have for Africa or the global south without first having electricity that is both consistently available and affordable,” said Shingai Samudzi, Asoba`s CEO.
Through the Fellowship, Asoba will engage in a 2 to 3 month build with one-on-one guidance from technical experts and AWS credits to cover the AWS service costs of the build. Both IRCAI and AWS will provide Asoba with a team of mentors who are experts in AI, sustainability, and ethics. Asoba will also gain access to advanced computing services, such as quantum computing, high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), and Generative AI.
“We are at a critical juncture, when generative AI is accelerating ways to solve the world’s biggest challenges, including climate change. It is more crucial than ever that we support innovators who are bringing scalable solutions to life by pushing the frontier of what’s possible with technology,” said Jon Jones, Vice President and Global Head of Startups at AWS. “The startups we selected for the Compute for Climate Fellowship CCC’s represent big, bold, approaches to tackling some of the planet’s most urgent challenges, from clean fusion energy, to better ways to track biodiversity, to sustainable textiles, and more. AWS is honored to support these pioneers, equipping them with the latest in AI and advanced cloud computing to help turn their ambitious ideas into positive impact on our planet.”
For more information on the Compute for Climate Fellowship, visit https://ircai.org/compute-for-climate-fellowship/
About Asoba
Asoba is a utility-scale virtual power plant company focused on advancing economic development in Africa and the global south. While climate-driven through our work in renewables, our core mission is to provide accessible, reliable, and affordable electricity to empower growth. Using advanced tech and data solutions, we enable energy stakeholders to make informed, impactful decisions that drive sustainable development and resilience across emerging markets.
