Three Kenyan and three Nigerian companies will receive grants up to $100,000 for winning entries in the Off-Grid Africa Energy Challenge sponsored by General Electric (GE) Africa and the U.S. African Development Foundation, CapitalDigitalMedia reports.

Kenyan companies include Solar World Limited, Afrisol Energy Limited and Mibawa Suppliers.

Nigerian winners include Trans Africa Gas and Electric, GVE Projects Ltd. and Afe Babalola University.

The challenge was open to African-led private companies, energy service providers, community associations, cooperatives and organizations.

The goal: Deliver renewable energy to underserved marginal populations not served by the power grid. This could include using a proven technology or service to benefit members of a community; or create innovative approaches to metering, payment, collections, or transmissions appropriate for off-grid solutions.

Solar World proposed building five solar-powered water points in Northern Kenya.

Afrisol Energy proposed building a bio-digester to produce electricity and biogas in the slums of Nairobi.

Mibawa proposed distributing lights using a rent-to-own model to replace kerosene lamps for low-income households in rural areas.

GVE Projects designed an 18-kilowatt solar-powered mini grid reaching about 140 homes.

Trans Africa Gas and Electric proposed a standalone cold storage facility to allow farmers to cool and store produce before bringing it to market.

Afe Babalola University, plans to generate 2.5 megawatts of electricity through a renewable hydro-electric power system that will serve more than 10,000 members of the university community and beyond.

The Off-Grid Energy Challenge was launched this year in Kenya and Nigeria with plans to expand into other countries later.