Ghana - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Bridge Energy Solutions transforms agro waste into eco-friendly briquettes for heating and cooking, reducing deforestation and indoor air pollution. Our durable, long-burning briquettes utilize coconut husks, promoting clean cooking and environmental cons

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Bridge Energy Solutions is a social enterprise transforming agro waste into eco-friendly briquettes for heating and cooking. Our briquettes emit minimal smoke, thanks to natural binders like clay. By repurposing coconut husks and mixing them with clay, we create durable, high-calorific briquettes that can burn for over six hours, making them perfect for households, restaurants, and industries. Our innovative approach not only helps reduce deforestation but also mitigates indoor air pollution, promoting clean cooking practices in rural, urban, and peri-urban communities. By utilizing coconut husks, we also address environmental pollution caused by improper disposal, reducing flooding and bad odors after heavy rainfall. Bridge Energy Solutions is committed to climate change advocacy, offering a sustainable alternative that preserves our forests and improves public health.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Bridge Energy Solutions tackles multiple critical issues through our innovative briquette production. Firstly, we address deforestation caused by traditional charcoal production, which is depleting Ghana's natural forests and contributing to climate change. Secondly, we combat indoor air pollution from conventional cooking methods, which poses serious health risks and causes numerous deaths annually. Lastly, we solve the environmental pollution problem from improper disposal of coconut husks, which leads to flooding and health hazards in local communities. By transforming agro waste into eco-friendly briquettes, we provide a sustainable and clean cooking solution that benefits households, restaurants, and industries, while promoting environmental conservation and public health.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

The advantages of using our briquette is what has kept us within the market till now, some of these advantages are: 1. Long-lasting period of usage, 2. High energy content to prepare dishes quickly 3. Burns without smoke 4. Ash is used as a form of fertilizer.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Households: Families in rural, urban, and peri-urban communities seeking a cleaner, more efficient, and cost-effective alternative to traditional charcoal for cooking and heating. Restaurants and Catering Services: Businesses that require reliable and long-lasting heat sources for cooking, allowing them to prepare meals efficiently while reducing operational costs and minimizing smoke emissions. Industries: Companies that use heating in their operations, benefiting from a sustainable and high-calorific fuel source that supports productivity and environmental goals. Environmental and Health Advocates: Individuals and organizations focused on reducing deforestation, mitigating climate change, and promoting public health by decreasing indoor air pollution and supporting eco-friendly practices.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-09-30

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

Zaacoal is the number one producer of briquettes from coconut husk with starch as a binding agent, serving sub-Saharan Africa for at least 5 years and still counting. They own about 60% machine-operated facility, located within the Greater Accra Region, with at least 12 staff.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Our briquette production currently employs not less than 5 permanent staff, and several other temporary staff depending on the workload, these employment provides a source of livelihood addressing the issue of no poverty.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

Cutting down trees to produce charcoal has been the traditional way for a source of fuel, our products make use of coconut husk which could have bred mosquitoes, and convert it into a source of fuel.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

At the company, quarterly seminars and workshops are organized, ranging from our field of work to safety, in order to keep the staff updated.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

5

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

My employment ratio is almost 1:1, out of seven staff, three are females.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

6

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

Our product is relatively affordable for homes and restaurants to keep up with for a long period, our product is noted to last for an extra 3 hours than the usual ones in the market because of the content of our binding agent.

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Our workflow is one you can learn quickly and put into practice, encouraging many to apply daily to better off their lives. .

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Most briquette-producing companies use starch as a binding agent, however, we use clay as a binding agent.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

I had the opportunity to employ a disabled guy (one-handed) who performed very even before passing out.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Instead of open burning of coconut husk, we make use of it to produce our briquette, helping to mitigate negative climate actions.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

6

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

In conserving our forest and ecosystems, we ensure we produce our briquettes without practicing the orthodox way of making charcoal by cutting down trees.

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

6

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

As a company, we make the necessary effort to join meetings about the SDGs to make our points and take from others since it's a shared responsibility.

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

5

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

6

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

6

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

3

06.08 Justification for my startup

Harsh environmental conditions prompted me to research possible means of an environmentally friendly fuel source.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Zaacoal is our main competitor, yet what makes us stand out is our staff capacity (seminars and workshops are regularly offered both indoor and external) and the ingenuity with which our binding agent (clay) is produced.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

In my current company, I employ females willing to learn on the job and organize periodic leadership seminars in schools for females.