NAIT Alternative Energy Technology students will lead the pilot project for Student Energy’s new program, Student Energy Ventures – a direct-to-youth funding program that breaks down traditional barriers to clean energy entrepreneurship and clean energy project development.
Student Energy welcomed Prairies Economic Development Canada as a lead supporter of the recently launched initiative, providing a federal investment of CAD$500,000 to enable a series of youth-led clean energy projects across Western Canada.
The pilot project will see current NAIT students Jack Harding and Ethan Buchanan create a set of guide documents and project template for installing small-scale solar PV panels. The templates will include best practices and technical expertise that Student Energy Ventures will make accessible to youth from underrepresented communities who are interested in launching their own clean energy projects.
WATCH: Launching Student Energy Venture video
Student Energy Ventures aims to remove barriers to clean energy entrepreneurship for young people by providing access to funding, mentorship and project development templates. By giving youth the necessary skills, knowledge, and support system for their initiatives, Student Energy Ventures allows young people to launch tangible community clean energy projects while creating opportunities for youth in underrepresented communities to pursue careers in the sector.
Through the Ventures program, priority will be given to support and deploy funding to targeted communities with both the highest potential for impact and who have lived through historical inequity in the global energy industry. Specifically, priority will be given to projects led by youth, women, and Indigenous youth or communities. As Ventures expands globally, Student Energy will also prioritize projects from the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
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ABOUT STUDENT ENERGY
Student Energy is the world’s largest youth-led organization empowering young people to accelerate the sustainable energy transition. Since 2009, Student Energy has worked with thousands of youth from over 120 countries, to build the knowledge, skills, and networks they need to take action on energy. Student Energy operates on a unique youth empowerment model, which means that initiatives are co-created with youth, for youth.
Student Energy has built coalitions with over 100 diverse partners, such as the UN, Indigenous Clean Energy, Sustainable Energy for All, HSBC Global, the Stockholm Environment Institute, DNV, WSP, and national governments like Canada, Denmark, and Sweden. Student Energy has stewarded CAD$10 million+ in funding to date, supported the development of over 280 youth energy projects, held 6 international Student Energy Summits, and attracted over 13 million people to its digital energy education platforms.
ABOUT PRAIRIES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CANADA (PRAIRIESCAN)
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) is the federal department that supports economic growth in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Its programs and services help businesses, not-for-profits and communities grow stronger. Its mandate is to support economic growth and diversification in the Prairie provinces and advance the interests of the region in national economic policy, programs and projects.
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