ReGen-R8, a portal for renewable energy for Lebanese farmers, won first place at the 2021 Berytech e-Hackathon, the second virtual hackathon focusing on clean technology organized by Berytech under the Cleanergy Program, supported by the Embassy of The Kingdom of The Netherlands in Lebanon, in collaboration with the Association of Energy Engineers- Lebanon Branch and with the support of HOLDAL Group.
Innovating, Hacking and Winning
The winning team used the Internet of Things (IoT) to make renewable energy easily accessible to Lebanese farmers. After analyzing data inputted by the farmer through the app, the platform computes the potential energy yield of both Solar PV electricity and BioGas and proposes a solution in the form of portable, modular power generation units for both Solar PV and BioGas generation that the farmer can lease.
The idea is dedicated to re-energizing the agricultural sector in Lebanon through relying on renewable energy.
The ReGen-R8 team is now qualified to join the first Batch of the Cleanergy Accelerator Program, along with the winners of second and third place. The team won the first prize of $5,000, divided into a prize of $3,000 and a grant of $2,000 which they will receive to validate their solution during the first phase of the accelerator program.
The second prize winner, MOWEC (Mechanical Ocean Waves Energy Converter) won $4,000, divided into a prize of $2,000 and a grant of $2,000 during the accelerator program. MOWEC relies on the fact that sea waves are producers of clean energy and has built a solution that uses gravity force to collect the energy transferred by the waves
The third prize went to KANZ, a $1,000 prize for their recyclable-pickup app solution based on the “cash for trash” concept rewarding users with eCommerce points, transferrable to popular eCommerce platforms.
Teams
The judges included Ziad Haddad, President of AEE, Lebanon branch, Samir Haddad, Business Optimization Manager at Holdal Group, Michel Ange Medlej, Senior Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Energy and Water, and Ramy Boujawdeh, Deputy General Manager at Berytech.
Out of the 99 applications received, 22 teams were selected to participate in the hackathon and 18 teams pitched in the pre-selection process before being shortlisted to 9 finalists:
Aquatricity – Water & Wastewater Management
Aquatricity is a combination of software and hardware that helps users optimize their water and energy consumption.
Bio-creative – Renewable Energy
Bio-creative Produces biodiesel from vegetable oil waste using heterogeneous catalysis.
G4WT – Renewable Energy
G4WT designs generators for wind turbines that guarantee high efficiency with more affordable prices to support wind energy production in Lebanon and the MENA region.
KANZ – Waste Management
KANZ is a “cash-for-trash” phone app & recyclable pickup service which rewards users with eCommerce shopping points transferable to popular eCommerce platforms.
MOWEC – Renewable Energy
MOWEC has created a machine that produces renewable power from sea waves.
ProtoMake – Water & Wastewater Management
ProtoMake uses a sustainable source of energy for harvesting clean drinkable water from humid air.
PTF – Waste Management
PTF turns plastic pollution into a solution, by transforming the plastic waste into byproducts that can help the fuel shortage crisis.
Smart Raccoon – Waste Management
Smart Raccoon created smart bins for decentralized optimization routes and sorting.
ReGen-R8 – Renewable Energy
ReGen-R8 is a portable, modular power generation solution.
The Hackathon Agenda and Activities
Throughout the e-hackathon, participants received the assistance of technical, industry, and business experts, and had access to the tools and hardware prototyping facility of the Berytech Fab Lab.
Virtual technical workshops were held to help participants in developing their prototype with both software sessions and hardware sessions. These were completed with virtual business workshops to help shape their idea, understand the needs of their customers, and develop their business model.
Each team also had a one-on-one clinic with business mentors, a field expert, a technical expert, and a pitching expert. In addition to the Berytech team the experts included Abbas Sidaoui, Andre Abi Awad, Alain Aoun, Ciara Noone, Georges Gharios, Hannah Wuzel, Mario Goraieb, Marc Aoun, Mohamad Diab, Mustafa Ammouri, Nadine Asmar, Palig Garboushian, Rewa Assim, Salah Awad, and Yasmine Jabaly.
Participants were also able to use the Berytech Fab Lab to create their prototypes. The lab has the latest digital manufacturing technology and a wide range of machinery and equipment to develop hardware, electronics, and other elements.
The Berytech e-Hackathon – Cleanergy 2021 was supported generously by HOLDAL Group. Maissa Abou Adal Ghanem, Member of the BOD, IAC & CSO at HOLDAL SAL shared: “For a sustainable future, we need a more cohesive and integrated approach to generate high impact and drive change. Solidarity is vital to address the impact of multiple overlapping shocks but we need to connect these solidarity drives and enable our community to be part of the national solution. HOLDAL is determined to promote a greener Lebanon and to minimize its impact on the environment be it through its ongoing recycling and upcycling program & awareness campaigns or through integration of green technologies and solutions in its ecosystem. For future generations… It is our duty to raise awareness and call for action. Together for a safer, fairer and greener Lebanon. If only for our young environmental heroes and sheroes, let’s think Green, Reduce, Reuse & Recycle!” .