IRENA Has Awarded Four Start-ups for Youth Innovation
The Rising Stars awards recognize young innovators scaling clean energy solutions across four international markets.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Energy
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The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has named four winning start-ups in its 2026 Rising Stars Youth Award competition. Selected from nineteen applicants in the NewGen accelerator, these companies are deploying clean energy tech across Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East.
Why it matters
The program aims to embed youth-led innovation at the center of the global energy transition by providing exposure and in-kind support for scaling clean technologies. It highlights the growing role of localized energy startups in addressing food security and grid management.
The winners demonstrated measurable impact, such as Aunkur AI serving 33,000 farmers, Enlog managing a 30 gigawatt-hour energy portfolio, and GreenBox by MVUTU preventing over 20,400 tonnes of perishable food loss compared to traditional storage methods.
The players
IRENA
The International Renewable Energy Agency is an intergovernmental organization that facilitates global cooperation on renewable energy policy and technology adoption.
Aunkur AI
A startup focused on agricultural energy technology that currently supports 33,000 farmers with tools that boost crop yields.
Enlog
An energy management firm that oversees a 30 gigawatt-hour portfolio and reduces indirect greenhouse gas emissions.
MVUTU
A developer of GreenBox, a renewable-powered refrigeration system designed to reduce post-harvest food loss for farmers.
YY ReGen
A renewable energy technology company based in Lebanon currently scaling its production capacity for clean energy hardware.
The details
The IRENA NewGen programme selects participants through a rigorous pitch process that evaluates both technical viability and scalability. Winners receive support to advance systems ranging from AI-driven agricultural energy tools to large-scale grid energy management. For example, GreenBox — a refrigeration solution using renewable energy for off-grid preservation — operates by cooling perishable goods to reduce post-harvest spoilage.
Timeline
2023: The IRENA NewGen programme launched.
September 17, 2026: Pitch sessions were held for the final award selection.
End of 2026: YY ReGen expects to complete production of 15 additional units.
The Tech Race
The NewGen programme operates as a competitive talent pipeline designed to bridge the gap between early-stage research and commercial energy market entry. It functions alongside other global climate-tech accelerators, tracking progress against established clean energy adoption benchmarks.
These technologies primarily benefit agricultural and grid-constrained regions by providing immediate tools for food storage and energy efficiency. While specific consumer pricing is currently unannounced, the scaling of these hardware units suggests a path toward lower operating costs for small-scale farmers and retailers.
The takeaway
This cohort highlights a shift toward AI-integrated and decentralized energy infrastructure in emerging markets. Watch for the end-of-year production figures from YY ReGen to gauge the operational success of these winning projects.
What happens next
YY ReGen is scheduled to scale its manufacturing operations with a target of producing 15 additional units by the end of 2026.
Further reading
For broader insights into how global policy is shaping the market, visit our Energy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Irena.
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