Africa Innovates Magazine - Flipbook - Page 36
Born during the civil war, Jeremiah Thoronka
grew up in an internally displaced persons
camp, where firewood and charcoal were
the only energy resources for lighting and
cooking. As a result, photochemical smog
caused air pollution and respiratory problems
amongst many of his peers.
It was this situation which prompted him
to act. At 17, he created Optim Energy to
design a piezoelectric device that harnesses
energy from heat, vibrations and weather – all
of which naturally occur in the environment –
to create affordable and clean power in local
communities.
OUTCOME
To date, Optim Energy has provided free
electricity to more than 150 households
and schools, changing the lives of over
1,500 residents and over 9,000 students.
The community has also experienced
a decrease in GHG emissions, an
improvement in lighting systems for
students, a decrease in deforestation
and raw material use, decreasing health
issues from photochemical smog, and
an increase in economic activity.
He created a generator that is powered by
the kinetic energy produced after the user
rewinds it for six to ten seconds. The first
prototype was scavenged materials, and
everything was assembled in his mum’s
house. He recalls the creative process as
both fun and amazing.
Jeremiah Thoronka was selected by the
United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI),
an initiative that aligns higher education
institutions with the United Nations in
supporting and contributing to their goals
and mandates.
“I believe the
greatest challenge
in solving climate
change is behavioral
change. (...) With a
change in energy
consumption
patterns, we’ll be
able to reduce the
amount of fossil fuel
being pumped into
the environment.”
ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR THE FUTURE
THE WALKING VIBRATIONS SIERRA LEONE’S RENEWABLE
KINETIC REVOLUTION
Jeremiah Thoronka,
Optim Energy founder
“The growing determination
to make a significant,
innovative contribution
in renewable energy
development, and creating a
more secure energy future,
makes each morning exciting,
believing I will somehow be
impacting someone’s energy
access narrative.”
Jeremiah Thoronka,
Optim Energy founder
Photo credit: Jeremiah Thoronka (LinkedIn)
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SHOWCASING AFRICAN CLIMATE CHAMPIONS
