EMPOWERING NON-GRID COMM UNITIES THR OUGH

I N N O VAT I V E F U E L - C E L L T E C H N O L O G Y

Alternative Energy Development Corporation - GSBI™ Class of 2010

Headquarters: Randburg, South Problem Statement:

Africa
Non-grid communities in South Africa and neighboring countries
Established: 2000 have limited options for lighting and electrification. Paraffin and
candles are expensive, unsafe, and unhealthy. Home batteries must
Impact Areas: Lesotho, Namibia, be taken into town to be charged every three days. Further, these
Zambia, South Africa
communities typically have 80% unemployment rates, leaving little
Type: For-Profit disposable income for investment in better solutions.
Sectors: Clean Tech & Energy, Eco-
nomic Development
Staff Size: 11 and 3-6 Volunteers
Annual Budget: $534,000
Major Funders: Investors and
mines (corporate social investment
projects)
Awards: Second Place Top 100
technology company in South Africa,
Minister award as top 100 technol-
ogy company in S.A., Globe Energy
Award, Tech Awards laureate, Africa
Award for best rural electrification
solution

Theory of Change:
Replacing candles and paraffin
with our zinc air fuel cells results in
continuously available green, renew-
able energy, a better quality of life,
education, health, safety and new
sustainable job opportunities for off-
grid communities.
Solution:
Our low-cost zinc air fuel cells provide green energy 24/7 to
non-grid communities at a lower monthly operating cost than
using candles or paraffin, thus providing improved quality of life,
health, education, and a means to sustainable local job creation.
By keeping upfront costs low and working with community lead-
ers to get a 90% adoption rate, we create a monthly annuity
income with a high profit margin. Our technology also reduces
carbon emissions and improves the environment by generating
no waste.

“At an operating cost lower than using candles, AEDC brings electricity to non-grid commu-
nities and helps to eradicate poverty.” - Rolf Papsdorf, CEO

| www.aedc.co.za | info@aedc.co.za | +2 711 708 7673 |

 EMPOWERING NON-GRID COMM UNITIES THR OUGH
I N N O VAT I V E F U E L - C E L L T E C H N O L O G Y

Milestones Achieved: Impact to Date:

2002: First significant funding from • 4600 community members in 4 countries are benefitting
shareholders now from our fuel cell energy

2006: Pilot project demonstrating

reliability of developed technology Annual Budget vs. Outcomes:
2008: First commercial installation
into a village of some 300 community
members
2009: Projects in 2 villages, reached
positive cash flow

Growth Plan:
• Implement rent to own system
• Manufacture and sell 50,000 fuel
cell sets
• Set up franchise models in S.A. Cost per Successful Outcome:
and joint ventures in other coun- $350
tries
• Achieve profit margin of over 35%

Investment Required:
$1 million, equity and/or convertible debenture. ($100,000
in 2010 and $900,000 in 2011).

“Since having AEDC’s power, I do not use candles and have no more coughing. I use now an electric sew-
ing machine and create a disposable income for my family.” – Olive, a customer in Limpopo, South Africa

This profile was developed during the 2010 Global Social Benefit Incubator™, the signature program of
Santa Clara University’s Center for Science, Technology and Society.
Updated 8/26/2010. www.scu.edu/sts/gsbi

| www.aedc.co.za | info@aedc.co.za | +2 711 708 7673 |