THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Kochi-based startup NavAlt Solar and Electric Boats, which launched India’s first solar-powered ferry boat service, has bagged the prestigious Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) award by eclipsing contestants from various other countries.
Founded in 2013,NavAlt has been successfully conducting water transport service in the Vembanadu Lake for the last one year using the sloar-powered boat Adithya, reducing carbon emission over the ecologically sensitive backwaters considerably.
Aditya, currently being operated in the busy Vaikom-Thavanakkadavu stretch across the Vembanad lake, has benefited around five lakh people. This 75-seater boat was launched in January, 2017 by Kerala Chief Minister Pinaryai Vijayan in the presence of Central Minister Piyush Goyal who was holding the charge for New and Renewable Energy.
NavAlt, whose activities are supported by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), had participated in the Cleantech Global Forum 2017, held in Los Angeles, US .
Sandith Thandasherry, founder of NavAlt, received the award at a ceremony held in Silicon Valley in the US. The award is jointly instituted by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Global Environment Facility and Cleantech Open.
Cleantech will help the selected startups find investors, customers and business partners. They will be provided with training and mentoring in Cleantech Open incubator. Companies selected from different countries took part in the contest held at Los Angeles.
NavAlt is instrumental in preventing the emission of about 94 tons of carbon dioxide and eight tons of other gases to the atmosphere. It has also saved 35,000 litre diesel by relying on solar energy.
According to Sandith Thandasherry, the venture accomplished its mission in Kerala owing to the availability of manpower, including research engineers. This solar ferry has provided a solution to the social problems of pollution and energy as demanded by the Prime minister of India, said CEO of Kerala Startup Mission, Dr Saji Gopinath.
Apart from NavAlt, two startups from India have also been selected for awards in different categories. Startups from Morocco, Pakistan, South Africa and Thailand have got other awards.
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