Future Female Leader spotlight: How Mekides Ashagre is contributing to Africa’s clean energy future

The TEA-LP has had the privilege of meeting and engaging with Mekides Ashagre, a Future Female Leaders in Energy graduate and representative at the Youth Energy Summit! 2025. As the co-founder and CEO of Ablenee Energy Solutions, she is at the forefront of transforming locally available organic and agricultural resources into sustainable solutions for clean energy, green mobility, and agricultural productivity—through innovations in Bio-CNG, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and Green Ammonia. With a background in Chemical and Bioengineering and Management, Mekides is leveraging technical knowledge, entrepreneurial drive, and leadership training to solve some of Africa’s most pressing energy and environmental challenges.

But behind her impressive list of innovations is a critical turning point: the Future Female Leaders in Energy short course hosted by the University of Cape Town and the African Management Institute.

“I saw it as a powerful platform to strengthen my leadership skills, deepen my energy knowledge, and connect with like-minded women driving change in the sector,” Mekides says. After discovering the program through social media, she enrolled—motivated by a desire to lead more effectively and scale the impact of her business.

The course didn’t just teach energy systems and project finance—it reimagined how she led. “It helped me build practical skills that were directly applied to our Bio-CNG pilot project,” she explains. More than technical knowledge, it boosted her confidence to speak on global stages, lead diverse teams, and forge international partnerships.

Since completing the course, Mekides has stepped into the spotlight—literally. She’s pitched Ablenee’s solutions at the YES! Conference at the Africa Energy Summit and led her company through international programs like the WFP Ignite Seed Program and the BRICS Women’s Innovation Contest, which she won!

Founded to address Ethiopia’s energy and waste challenges, Ablenee Energy Solutions began with a vision to turn agricultural waste into clean fuel. “Our mission is to produce Bio-CNG for cooking and transportation,” Mekides explains, “and we’ve since expanded into green hydrogen and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).” The company recently piloted its minimum viable products for Bio-CNG and green hydrogen, marking a major step toward commercialisation.

That growth hasn’t come without challenges – high infrastructure costs, regulatory hurdles, and limited access to local funding have tested the startup’s resilience. But Mekides and her team have overcome these barriers by forming strategic partnerships and engaging with global accelerators that helped refine their model and increase visibility.

One of the biggest accomplishments was securing partnerships with high-tech providers and proving the technical and economic viability of their pilot projects. Beyond the business, Mekides sees herself as part of a broader movement. “Empowering women in energy is not just an inclusion goal—it’s a necessity for climate justice,” she says. Her own journey—navigating male-dominated spaces, building a company from scratch, and speaking on international platforms—is proof of what’s possible when women are equipped and empowered to lead. And that’s exactly why she champions the Future Female Leaders in Energy program.

“The course was a turning point,” she reflects. “It gave me the tools, the network, and the confidence to show up in rooms where decisions are made.”

Her advice to other young women eyeing the clean energy sector? “Believe in your potential and start with what you have. Find your unique angle, seek mentors, and take up space.”

With a bold vision to become a leading provider of clean energy and eco-friendly agricultural inputs across Africa, Mekides Ashagre isn’t just imagining a more sustainable future—she’s building it. Through innovation, impact, and leadership, she’s not only reshaping Ethiopia’s energy landscape but also inspiring a new generation of female change makers across the continent. You can reach out to Mekides at mekides.ablene@gmail.com or on her LinkedIn profile.

The Future Female Leaders in Energy course was developed by the Transforming Energy Access – Learning Partnership in collaboration with the University of Cape Town and the African Management Institute. The Transforming Energy Access – Learning Partnership is funded by UKAID under the Transforming Energy Access platform.

– Andrea Fitzpatrick