Music superstar and solar entrepreneur Akon joined Shell to officially open a solar and human powered football pitch in the Nigerian capital Lagos at the Federal College of Education.
The football pitch was refurbished by Shell using more than 90 underground tiles that capture kinetic energy created by the movement of the players.
The kinetic energy is then stored and combined with power generated by solar panels to operate the new floodlights.
The bright energy idea allows the students to play at night and provides a safer and more secure space at the heart of the community.
The tiles are the invention of a young British entrepreneur and founder of Pavegen, Laurence Kemball-Cook, who has been supported through Shell’s Livewire project.
The singer is spearheading, through Akon Lighting Africa, a large scale effort to develop solar-powered solutions that will provide African communities with access to clean and affordable sources of electricity.
Akon said: “Projects like this innovative football pitch draw attention to the major opportunity that Nigeria as well as the whole of Africa have if we look to better harness new technologies and the continent’s abundant renewable energy resources.”
Shell country chair Osagie Okunbor, said, “Shell makes a significant contribution to energy solutions for Nigeria, and we are committed to supporting the Nigerian economy and its people.”
Laurence Kemball-Cook, Pavegen founder and CEO and Shell LiveWIRE UK Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist in 2011, said, “Our work with Shell has been pivotal to Pavegen’s growth.”