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Nigeria
Global Programme on Sustainability
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
The programme supports sustainable economic growth that is both long-lasting and resilient to climate-related stressors. It does this through the integration of natural capital into decision making by governments, the private sector and financial institutions. The inability to value natural capital can undermine long-term growth and critically, the livelihoods of the poorest people dependent on ecosystems for their livelihoods. This programme directly addresses this challenge by (i) investing in data and research on natural capital; (ii) assisting countries to integrate this analysis into government policy making; and (iii) integrating this data and analysis into financial sector decision making.
A contribution to Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSDA) the United Nations Development Programme Biodiversity Finance Initiative (Biofin) to support delivery of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
The programme will support low and lower-middle income countries to grow their economies in ways that help to protect and restore their natural capital and so drive sustainable economic development. It is designed to provide practical support to governments, businesses, and financial institutions to integrate nature into their economic and financial decision-making, understand and manage nature-related risks, and capitalise on growing opportunities to invest in their natural assets. As such, it will support low and lower-middle income countries to transition to nature positive, net zero economies and so protect the poorest communities. Through an integrated set of activities, the programme will deliver the following outcomes: • Private Sector Disclosure Readiness: private sector actors in low and lower-middle income countries – including financial institutions, businesses, and policy-makers - will have the tools they need to understand and manage nature-related financial risk. In particular, the programme will ensure that key institutions have the tools and capacity to respond to growing demand to disclose nature-related financial risk. • Integrating nature at country level: governmental and regulatory decision-makers in low and lower-middle income countries will have the knowledge, skills and data to design and implement policies and programmes that will help to manage nature-related risks, unlock new nature markets, and rebuild natural capital. • Action Plans for Nature: partner governments will develop clear and comprehensive plans to finance the protection and restoration of nature. These plans will act as platforms to mobilise and guide both public and private financial flows. • Evidence Sharing Mechanisms on Nature: better evidence will be available to, and used by, decision makers in low and lower middle-income countries to guide their work. The programme will help to build the evidence about how to best integrate consideration of the natural environment into economic and financial decision making. It will also help decision-makers in governments and the private sector to access and use that evidence easily by building communities of practice and robust approaches to sharing knowledge and information. The outcomes will support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), agreed at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meeting COP15. As protection and restoration of critical ecosystems is also critical to tackling climate change, it will also support the UK goal to keep global temperature rises within 1.5c degrees.
Darwin Initiative
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
The Darwin Initiative is the UK’s flagship international challenge fund for biodiversity conversation and poverty reduction, established at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. The Darwin Initiative is a grant scheme working on projects that aim to slow, halt, or reverse the rates of biodiversity loss and degradation, with associated reductions in multidimensional poverty. To date, the Darwin Initiative has awarded more than £195m to over 1,280 projects in 159 countries to enhance the capability and capacity of national and local stakeholders to deliver biodiversity conservation and multidimensional poverty reduction outcomes in low and middle-income countries. More information at https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/the-darwin-initiative. This page contains information about Rounds 27 onwards. For information about Rounds 1 to 26, please see the Darwin Initiative website -https://www.darwininitiative.org.uk/
Fleming Fund - Country and Regional Grants and Fellowships Programme
UK - Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
The Fleming Fund helps low- and middle-income countries to fight antimicrobial resistance. A management agent has been appointed to deliver: country grants 24 low- and middle-income countries, regional grants in West Africa, East and Southern Africa, South Asia and South East Asia, and a global fellowships programme. These initiatives aim to improve laboratory capacity and diagnosis as well as data and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Through the country and regional grants and the fellowships programme the Fleming Fund will: build laboratory capacity for diagnosis; collect data on drug resistance, drug quality, drug use and the burden of disease associated with AMR; enable the sharing of data relevant to AMR locally, regionally, and internationally; encourage the application of data to promote the rational use of antimicrobials; shape a sustainable system for AMR surveillance and data sharing; and increase national leadership in addressing AMR. Projects funded through Fleming Fund will benefit people in low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of drug resistant infection is greater.
Harvest Cool
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Agriculture plays a significant role in the Nigerian economy, contributing 22.35% GDP (2021) and employing \>70% of its population at subsistence level(1). Onions are a lucrative, dry season irrigated crop and ~2 Mt/annum are produced, largely in Northern Nigeria. Opportunities for onion farmers are not fully realised, due to low investment in agronomic practices, and post-harvest losses (up to 50%). Traditional drying of onions could be replaced by a cool supply chain from field to market, however, access to energy for chilling hampers this initiative. The Harvest Cool project represents stakeholders from farming business, agricultural services, and technology providers who will deliver an integrated energy system to develop a low carbon cold storage system for onions grown in Nigeria. The partnership comprises PyroGenesys (biomass pyrolysis technology); Lavender Fields (agricultural produce aggregator and marketer); the Nigeria Agribusiness Group and Agrolog (agricultural extension services, Nigeria) and University College London (Life Cycle Assessment input). The project builds on a feasibility study carried out by Lavender Fields, identifying farming communities which sell to a major onion market (Karfi) in Kano, Nigeria, with a demonstrable need to develop cool supply chains for perishable crops. The project is innovative in bringing together unique engineering designs which address cold storage for transport from the field to a central storage point. The project is also innovative in the conception of a business model which considers energy provision; the benefits of food waste reduction; adding value to low income farming communities; and a circular carbon farming system with potential to improve agronomic conditions and carbon sequestration in soils. The project will be assessed quantitatively through Life Cycle Assessment of global warming potential (GWP) of the overall system and qualitatively through a programme of community interactions, demonstrating the project's contribution to addressing SDG7 Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG13 Climate Change. REFERENCES (1) https://www.fao.org/nigeria/fao-in-nigeria/nigeria-at-a-glance/en/
Core - International Collaboration Awards
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
International Collaboration Awards enable outstanding researchers in the UK to partner with the best research groups in developing countries on projects that address issues faced by developing countries.
Solar Battery Hub: A Safe, Secure, Sustainable and Affordable Alternative to Diesel Generators
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Nigeria has the world's largest energy access deficit with over 85 million people without access to energy. Current technological methods of bridging the energy access gap mainly revolve around the deployment of mini-grids and solar home systems. Mini-Grids fall short of solving this problem due to low utilisation rates and the high cost of establishing a distribution network, whilst solar home systems rarely meet the power requirement for productive energy use. Key productive use cases such as SMEs, Agriculture, Health facilities and schools fall short of getting the right quality of electricity and, therefore rely heavily on petrol and diesel generators. For example, in Nigeria: only 40% of hospitals have reliable electricity access, underscoring the limited electricity access in health facilities in the region. 34 million SMEs in Nigeria lack access to electricity, whilst the country spends over $20 billion on petrol and diesel costs for generators. 65% of Nigeria's schools need electricity, preventing the guarantee of technology-based education. 45% of farmers lack the electricity required to preserve their goods to reduce post-harvest losses in Nigeria. The Solar-Battery Hub (SBH) project, building on previous funding from the Energy Catalyst fund, will explore the feasibility of solar-powered battery-swapping stations to replace the use of small diesel and petrol generators in Nigeria. A pilot SBH will be deployed within an urban community and exploratory research will be conducted within 4 use cases - SMEs (traders), Agriculture (Milling), Health Care and a School. The project consortium partners CEE and PAM Africa will collaborate in understanding the likely user cases and the impact when compared to the other sources of electricity. Various battery chemistries will be explored to reduce costs and a secure battery tracking methodology shall be researched. Meanwhile IP developed during the project will be exploited and a thorough Cost Benefit Analysis will be produced.
Mobile Solar Generator with Modular Battery Capsules for Affordable and Flexible Energy Use (MobACE)
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
In an ambitious and transformative initiative, Sleekabyte and Citibim unveil "MobACE" - a groundbreaking project designed to revolutionise renewable energy access in Nigeria. The innovative project harnesses solar energy over fossil fuel. With timeline from June 2024 to March 2025, this venture is set to redefine sustainable energy solutions. At the heart of MobACE lies the Optimised Mobile Solar-Generator (OMSG), an innovative engineering system. This portable generator integrates a suite of advanced technologies, including foldable solar panels with a 180-degree tilt mechanism and solar intensity sensors. These features ensure maximum solar energy capture, optimising power output and efficiency. Complementing the OMSG are the Rechargeable-Battery-Capsule-Energy-Banks (ReBCEB). These high-capacity, removable battery capsules are designed for efficiency, safety, and longevity. They offer a practical and eco-friendly power solution, especially beneficial to small business owners, home-based professionals, and students. The genius of ReBCEB lies in its adaptability and portability, providing renewable energy solutions for various applications. A key component of this project is the development of the MobACE Energy Management System (MobACE-EMS). This innovative digital platform is set to revolutionise energy management. It offers comprehensive tracking and optimisation of energy generation, storage, and distribution. Not only does it facilitate efficient energy use, but it also enhances the longevity of the battery capsules. The system ensures that end-users and merchants can maximise the benefits of MobACE, fostering a sustainable energy ecosystem. Engagement with local communities, Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, and regulatory bodies forms a cornerstone of this project. These interactions will help gather crucial data on usage patterns and market needs, shaping an effective project delivery framework. The project also aligns with Sleekabyte's and Citibim's commitment to a clean circular economy, leveraging their expertise in hardware design, solar system management, and digital technology. MobACE is much more than a project; it's a pivotal shift towards a sustainable and brighter future in Nigeria. This initiative uniquely blends cutting-edge technology with environmental responsibility and strategic market insight. It stands as a promising solution in the journey towards renewable energy, poised to make a significant impact in the realm of sustainable power solutions.
PyroPower Africa Stage 2
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
PyroPower is a containerised 100 kW waste to energy technology developed by PyroGenesys and ICMEA-UK in Energy Catalyst Round 6 (ECR6). The conversion of agricultural waste to renewable electricity, process heat and biofuels simultaneously, underpins PyroPower's novel multi-revenue ability to provide reliable, affordable, renewable electricity in off-grid communities. Project partner Mobinet will facilitate access to formal banking services, microfinance and credit using their SIMPAY mobile banking platform. Proactive engagement and facilitation of women farmers and women-owned and run businesses, and wider engagement with disadvantaged groups to ensure they are included and their specific priorities and needs are being met, will be prioritised by all partners. ATMANCorp owns a 700 hectare cassava farm and flour mill in Oyo State and will host the PyroPower pilot along with a Micro Enterprise Park (MEP) and guarantee the supply of agricultural waste. The pilot will provide biofuel to a 250kva genset used to generate power for the factory and MEP and supply culinary-grade steam used for sterilising food processing lines in the factory. Aston University will build on their biofuel work with PyroGenesys in ECR7, to develop a continuous liquid biofuels process for producing diesel and kerosene. Manufacturing methods required to scale up the process for commercial production, will be developed by ICMEA-UK. Introduction of these liquid biofuels to the Nigerian market, in the form of renewable alternatives to diesel and kerosene, will be managed by Ardova PLC, a major Nigerian hydrocarbon reseller that supplies petroleum products to around 500 filling stations across the country. Within 5 years of project start, lessons from the pilot will inform the rollout of 100 commercial PyroPower installations across Ardova's filling station network. Deploying Mobinet's SIMPAY payment platform will support cashless electricity purchases made using featureless mobile handsets with no internet access in communities selected by Ardova to host commercial PyoPower installations. The export of solid biofuels in the form of solid smokeless biochar briquettes as a renewable alternative to coal, will be managed by PyroGenesys ECR7 partner Coal Products Limited (CPL).
ECOSMART:2
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
ECOSMART:2 will demonstrate the smart integration of a novel, enhanced anaerobic digestion (AD) process with solar technology to form the basis of a circular economy model, providing affordable, clean, secure energy access. Through development and operation of the ECOSMART:2 modules, new integrated UK-Nigerian enterprises and supply chains will be established, aligning social and gender considerations with economic and environmental benefits. With a focus on valorising agri/food waste streams (e.g. cassava and water hyacinth), ECOSMART:2 will ensure a high proportion of beneficiaries are women and those on low incomes. ECOSMART:2 will build on the consortium's expertise, utilising locally available materials and low-cost components to ensure affordability, and reducing feedstock retention time through system design to to accelerate the AD process. It will also produce soil amenders and fertiliser to replace expensive, synthetic fertilisers, thus supporting local, sustainable agricultural practices. With a 4.5-year payback, this model of affordable, low carbon, secure bioenergy will tap into Nigeria's £7.45Bn microgrid market to support enterprise and capacity building opportunities with operator training and local manufacture as well as up-skilling both upstream and downstream enterprises/supply chains for the provision of feedstock and the sale of energy and fertiliser. AD and control systems will be adapted by UK SMEs for global commercial opportunities. With a focus on flexible energy use and affordability, advances in demand-side management and microgrid technology, ECOSMART:2 presents developing countries with an opportunity to leapfrog expensive, centralised infrastructure.
Mobile Power’s combined ‘battery-as-a-service’ and ‘vehicle-as-a-service’ business model pilot in rural Nigeria
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Transport in Nigeria is reliant on fuel that is expensive, often poor quality & reliant on government subsidy. Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producing country but subsidises fuel resulting in a cost to the state. Technical advances in electric vehicles in China and India has seen an explosion in cheap electric motorbikes and electric agricultural tricycles. Africa has the richest renewable energy resources on the planet in the form of solar and biomass. However the issue is power distribution not generation. An innovate battery technology is needed to unlock an electric vehicle revolution in rural Africa. Mobile Power has designed and tested an energy distribution ecosystem that supplies affordable, clean power to poor households and enterprises in off-grid communities across West Africa using a pay-as-you-go smart battery rental system. The core innovation is in the cost-effective distribution of electricity off-grid. Mobile Power's batteries are charged at solar charging stations called "MOPO Hubs". The MOPO Batteries are then rented directly from the Hub or distributed through MOPO Agents using our smart battery technology. Our inbuilt security system prevents unauthorised activation of battery packs and unauthorised charging. This project will focus on the rural Nigeria market providing clean affordable power to 75 villages by: REPLACING HOUSEHOLD GENERATORS: The MOPO Batteries provide electricity for households and micro-enterprises for phone charging, lights, TVs, radios and run other DC appliances such as freezers, sewing machines or agricultural machinery. IMPROVING RURAL TRANSPORT NETWORKS: The MOPO Batteries will power electric motorbikes and agricultural tricycles, using a battery swap model, renting out the motorbikes and batteries. This rental model makes it affordable to the market - cheaper than fossil-fuel alternatives. BIOMASS PILOT: Our MOPO Hubs will be powered mostly by solar but we will also charge the batteries using electricity generated from cassava waste through the PyroGenesys' PyroPower process. A site has already been identified in Oyo State as a pilot site. This will demonstrate our model with multiple renewable energy sources. Women make up 60-80% of the Nigerian farmers and yet have significantly less access to motorised transport than men. This is associated with typical gender-related roles (greater responsibility for children), gender-related financial and economic situations (less access to money) and gender-related expectations about access to transport. Tearfund Nigeria will work in these 75 communities to provide Transforming Masculinities training that has been proven to improve gender equality and women's access to clean electricity and transport.
Cool Efficiency in West Africa
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Cooling infrastructure - fridges and freezers - are vital for commerce, home use and for preserving medication, vaccinations and food. Unlike many off-grid solar energy systems, cooling solutions must operate as close to 24/7 as possible to ensure there is little/no wastage and are therefore subject to 'over-specification', leading to high energy system costs. In addition, when using a solar system to power a fridge, there are multiple issues that can interrupt the power supply including faults on the solar, battery or load sides, tampering, incorrectly sized systems or low energy yield due to poor weather. This project brings together a consortium of companies that seek to solve these issues so that project partners Focus Energy and Koolboks can offer a higher quality and easier to manage cooling services for customers in West Africa. To do this, the project builds on Inclusive Energy's remote monitoring system, Cloud Solar, and will seek to develop data modelling and machine learning techniques with both the live data and meta-data to deliver insights to cooling service providers and their customers. As well as reacting to faults and issues that have already occurred, the project will investigate and develop a solution to provide predictive maintenance for a range of issues including predicting the end of life of the batteries and predicting probable system issues such as lack of energy availability. These issues can then be mitigated with sophisticated load shedding and controls via the Cloud Solar charge controller, along with alerts for the solar system owners and providers to advise on energy saving techniques. Therefore, the project proposes development of 3 parallel and integrated capabilities: (1) analyse, (2) forecast, (3) mitigate. Inclusive Energy will work with Koolboks and, Focus Energy, and their West African customers, to ensure that the insights are relevant and that the user interface is fit for purpose.
Development of a HIGH Capacity FLEXible Energy Storage System for Mini-Grid Application in Sub-Sahara Africa (High ESS)
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
This collaborative project will develop and demonstrate a new technology (HIGHFLEX) that consists of a high-capacity flexible energy storage systems (HIGHFLEX ESS) integrated with innovative Battery Management System (BMS); Power Conditioning Unit (PCU) and intelligent monitoring and performance management system (Digital Twin) for mini grid applications in hot climates. The new technology is a portable and scalable system that facilitates: Quick development of mini grids in SSA. Storage of high-capacity energy generated from clean power sources during peak hours for off-peak utilisation. Delivering reliable and affordable power system through innovative solutions e.g., Digital twin, second life battery, real-time performance management and heat control system. The project's vision is to rapidly accelerate access to affordable off-grid electricity from clean energy sources in SSA. The project taps into the expanding global mini grid markets to offer affordable energy access for social mobility and inclusion in SSA communities not served by main power grids. HIGHFLEX will facilitate steady supply of electricity to rural and unserved areas and reduce energy access gaps between rural and urban communities in SSA where inaccessibility to affordable electricity is one of the main drivers of poverty to over 600 million people. This project has chosen Nigeria as a case for deployment of HIGHFLEX technology because of its over 200 million population and majority of its rural population (48% of its total population) do not have access to affordable and low carbon electricity. The project addresses barrier (access to electricity) to adoption of advancements in healthcare system; developing new technologies for agriculture, commerce, education; and entrepreneurship. HIGHFLEX makes it possible to deliver low carbon electricity to unlock sustainable economic development in SSA communities. This will empower women and children to lead more productive lives and have a better wellbeing. This will in turn encourage gender equality by learning digital and modern skills, which gives girls and women equal access to education, healthcare and enterprise. Furthermore, access to clean energy via mini grid will reduce crime and social unrest, since majority of the population would be productively engaged (Bloomberg 2020). This will lead to improved human security and cohesive communities and societies driven by mutual objective for sustainable development. HIGHFLEX will accelerate access to affordable and low carbon clean energy from bio-diesel, solar and wind (SDG 7), which lower environmental impacts from continued use of diesel-powered generators in Nigeria (world's leading generator consumer) to combat climate change effects (SDG 13).
Energy Intelligence: smart insights for affordable clean energy
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
enee.io increases access to reliable and affordable energy by improving the life and efficiency of energy systems. Through plug-and-play sensors, mobile phone applications and web-based reporting, enee.io provides customers with the information they need to optimize energy usage, improve energy system health and safeguard backup power supplies. We focus on helping people in developing countries who pay disproportionately high amounts for energy and suffering from pollution caused by diesel generators. enee.io is the fitness tracker for energy systems The enee.io product is a low-cost plug-and-play intelligent energy monitoring system (iEMS). The iEMS consists of simple proprietary IoT sensors that are installed on each source of energy generation (solar, grid and diesel generators), storage (batteries) and consumption (residential or commercial & industrial premises). The collected data from the sensors is transmitted to the enee.io cloud based servers where data analysis is provided through our proprietary algorithms. Alerts, insights, and energy performance information is provided through our mobile and web applications. The EC10 project will incorporate AI into our platform to combine data to allow users to fully optimise their energy system. These include how to increase energy availability and resilience; identification of maintenance required to extend asset life and improve performance and total energy cost analysis. The iEMS is affordable and simple to use, representing a quantum leap as a data-driven enabler for households and businesses. We estimate savings of $1900 over 5 years for an $160 investment. The iEMS will increase access for millions of people, to reliable, affordable, and clean energy by providing users with the information they need to optimise their energy system. Allowing them to 'right size' their energy assets and minimise operational costs. Ultimately reducing the reliance on costly and highly polluting diesel generators. There are no other products available on the market that provide this combination of low-cost and cutting-edge technology
UNIQUE STEAM TO POWER GENERATOR SYSTEMS FOR DECENTRALISED THERMAL PLANTS AND SMALL WASTE INCINERATORS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Nigeria and other ODA countries have limited and unreliable grid electricity supply which limits industrial growth and productivity. As a result of power intermittency and being offgrid, many industries are reliant on highly polluting costly diesel generators. Heliex Power manufactures a unique energy recovery technology based on twin-screw steam turbine, which is easy to retrofit, install and operate in industrial applications that produce waste heat. Saturated wet steam is common in these thermal processes, and industries benefit from a Heliex TST unit as its innovative expander technology is unique in working with saturated wet steam to generate power. Current version of Heliex has sold over 85 units across Europe, but requires reliable grid connectivity to operate, and so is unsuitable for ODA countries. The aim of this project is develop the electrical and control systems to allow offgrid/decentralised operation. Project developments include modifications to the electrical part of the unit, its control to the new system requirements, modifying steam components as identified during an engineering review, plus testing and certification of the equipment. The solution offers an alternative to replace or reduce the power generated from diesel generators by industry with clean power generated by the Heliex unit. This cost-effective solution will also make it affordable for industrial customers to run their factories, especially with the removal of government diesel subsidies in Nigeria. Long term, Heliex with our local distributor in Nigeria, and in other ODA countries will further promote the installation of our equipment in industry significantly reducing carbon emissions.
Decentralised Energy Market Access And Co-finance (DEMA2C)
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
UNSDG 7 targets to achieve universal energy access by 2030, unfortunately, based on the current trajectory there is still a gap and it may be growing. This is so given that globally, about 789 million people (597 million of whom are in sub-Saharan Africa SSA do not have access to energy. Moreover, limited coverage, high interconnection costs, high energy and unreliable supply are the primary challenges of using conventional grid connections for both rural and urban areas. This would have been the opportunity for decentralised grids e.g. solar to fill the gap, especially off-grid communities completely cut-off from the main grid, unfortunately, renewables intermittency and high upfront costs are strong deterrents, moreover, there is a low affinity for financing micro-grid generation because investors struggle to track their ROI. The current set-up/technologies supporting DERs particularly solar are yet to overcome the peak generation and peak consumption mismatch nor track ROI. The DEMA2C consortium including Innovation Consultancy & Entrepreneurship (lead Partner), OtaskiES, Wave Insight, Moneda, MAD and Edo State Ministry of Infrastructure will be developing a technology that will enable the creation of a unified renewables-based grid that can supply on-demand green energy to off-grid communities. The technology will bridge the intermittency of the renewable delivering on-demand energy supply by optimising the link between generation and consumption without additional panels, high storage bank costs nor resorting to fossil-fuelled generators. It will also offer an energy-as-a-service model supported by an innovative payment platform with real-time ROI tracking for investors. This will stimulate investment into DERs to meet SDG 7 target by attracting investors that up to now have been shying away from investing in renewables-based micro grid. Successful deployment of DEMA2C will also enable prosumers are able to get an ROI 5X faster than when they would be just self-consuming their generated capacity. The clean energy DEMA2C enabled micro-grid will facilitate the avoidance of e1.04CO2kg/kW in emissions by replacing the use of generators.
Ubuntu Energy
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
This project aims to build community resilience in sub-Saharan Africa using Energy Ubuntu as a vehicle. It is akin to the 'Uber of Energy', democratising power sharing, transforming wasted energy into community power, and empowering communities to drive their development through sustainable means. It seeks to transform waste energy to community power for productive use. It addresses the developmental challenges of lack of modern and clean energy access, energy poverty and the harmful effects of global warming by improving access to clean and reliable electricity and deriving new business and economic change models, and building capabilities and contributing to SDGs 1,3,4,5,7,8,9,11,12,13. Nigeria's electricity sector faces a problem. Its Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) are sub-optimally utilized and substantially wasteful, while it has deficient electricity access of ~60%. Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are up to 400% oversized or lack the mechanism required to utilize their generation potential. Some PV systems are up to 80% used during the weekdays but are 20% utilized on weekends. Rural communities only utilize about 5% of the potential PV energy. Yet, 85 million Nigerians have no electricity access, costing Nigeria $26 billion annually for self-generation using carbon-intensive generators, causing excessive carbon emissions and energy waste because excess generation cannot be fed into the grid. To address this challenge, Energy Ubuntu delivers a design and pilot of a smart grid (SG) peer-to-peer (P2P) energy-sharing framework that enables the distribution of excess generation potential to energy consumers to enhance PV capacity utilization and minimize energy waste while providing clean and affordable electricity. It improves PV usage by incentivizing individuals or businesses to sell energy to potential consumers in a peer-to-peer system. The consumers will be SMEs and homes near solar PV systems in rural and urban communities. The project will be implemented over two years with critical deliverables of smart grid design, energy trading software, energy data mining and machine learning models for energy supply, deployment of smart circuitry in 200 sites, energy trade, and the evolution of new business models and community resilience initiatives. It will be implemented by four teams, Greenage Technologies (Technical lead), Nithio (Technical partner), Oxford EPG (research lead), and DRE Partners Ltd (formerly Kula Foods) (Admin Lead). Some co-benefits can be derived from Energy Ubuntu, including sustainable community development and carbon emission reduction leading to improved standards of living while significantly decreasing CO2 emissions.
Powering the Future: Revolutionising Access and Efficiency through Integrated and Sustainable Energy Solutions
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
SureChill and GreenPower Overseas Ltd are leading companies in the off-grid refrigeration and power solutions markets, respectively. SureChill specializes in providing affordable refrigeration solutions using revolutionary technology that ensures consistent cooling even without electricity, while GreenPower focuses on delivering cutting-edge power and energy solutions. Under the joint initiative titled "Powering the Future: Revolutionizing Access and Efficiency through Integrated and Sustainable Energy Solutions," we are dedicated to empowering underserved communities with reliable, clean, and affordable cooling and lighting solutions. Our shared objective is to create transformative impact, stimulate economic growth, foster sustainability, and ultimately create a future that is inclusive for all. In Nigeria, communities in underserved regions in the country face significant challenges in accessing cooling and lighting solutions. World Bank reports from 2020 reveal that in Nigeria, the electrification rate stood at approximately 57%, leaving over 85 million individuals without dependable access to grid electricity. Consequently, these individuals resort to alternative options like generators and other unconventional power sources. This reliance on alternative means underscores the considerable proportion of people who lack access to essential services such as lighting, cooling, phone charging, television, and fans. We recognize these barriers and have developed two innovative solutions to address them. Solution v1 combines the SureChill SDD fridge energy harvesting system with a Solar Home System (SHS), optimizing energy utilization and ensuring reliable access to electricity. This solution diverts excess energy for later use, providing power to essential appliances and improving the quality of life for businesses and communities. Building on the success of solution v1, solution v2 takes energy access and management to the next level. By integrating the energy harvesting system, remote controller, and a unique payment model into an Energy Management System Control Hub, users gain real-time control over their energy consumption, remote access to appliances, and flexible payment options tailored to their specific needs. To achieve our objectives, we will conduct rigorous testing and validation of solution v1 while simultaneously investing in intense research and development for solution v2. By piloting both solutions, we will test the efficiency and effectiveness of the solutions in diverse communities, paving the way for seamless integration. By funding the collaboration between SureChill and GreenPower, Innovate UK will support in creating a future where underserved communities will be empowered, new economic opportunities will be unlocked, and a sustainable and inclusive society for all will be fostered.
EverPower - an expandable, zero-emissions solar generator for Nigerian SMEs
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
BioLite is an energy company that develops and manufactures clean cooking, lighting, charging, and power storage technologies for off-grid households across sub-Saharan Africa. Over the past ten years, BioLite has commercialised over 30 products and shipped over half a million products a year to 100 countries, delivering clean energy access to nearly 8 million people across 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, over 11 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including clinics, schools, farms, and small businesses, rely on dirty, inefficient fossil fuel generators to power their businesses. In addition to providing costly and interrupted power supply, these have serious health and environmental consequences. Building on BioLite's deep technical expertise in solar generators and with the support of Innovate UK, BioLite proposes developing EverPower, an expandable, zero-emissions solar generator capable of replacing fossil fuel generators and applicable to the needs of weak grid or off-grid Nigerian SMEs. EverPower would fill the "missing middle" in the solar energy market: it would be larger than most commercially available solar home systems, but smaller than most mini-grid systems. It will also be the first zero-emissions pay-as-you-go generator designed to be sold and scaled through a B2B model in sub-Saharan Africa. BioLite has strong relationships with the leading clean energy distributors in Nigeria, and will train their large agent networks to audit customer energy needs, tailor the system spec to optimise their fuel savings and experience and install it safely. The plans are to install a first set of EverPowers in Nigeria for testing by October 2024 and, following this, a mass production launch in Q2 2025. Given the ongoing climate crisis, BioLite is uniquely well placed to design an innovative zero-emissions generator to provide cleaner and safer energy and scale the uptake quickly and cost-effectively in Nigeria.
MOPO+: A Novel Integrated Renewable Technology Solution to replace Fossil-Fuel Generators in Nigeria
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
In Nigeria, the electricity grid is not able to keep up with a growing population, as a result 40% of households own a fossil-fuel generator. There are believed to be 22 million small generators in Nigeria providing 8 times the amount of electricity as the Nigerian grid (A2EI/Dalberg 2019). This is despite the government ban to stop small generators being imported in bulk in 2015. Until recently, the Nigerian government heavily subsidised fossil-fuel, making it even harder for solar products to undercut the cost of fossil-fuel. However in May 2023 the new President (Tinbu) declared an end to the fuel subsidy in his inauguration speech. With that decree, the economics of Nigeria's nascent solar industry changed at once. The subsidy removal has thrown that market wide open. Fuel prices spiked 175% overnight, disrupting the economics of a generator-dependent nation. Fuel prices have now risen to 300% higher than before this announcement. Solar products are now able to be more competitive with fossil-fuel generators. Since 2013 Mobile Power has developed and patented a unique battery technology through installing solar-powered "MOPO Hubs" that provide energy via pay- per-use MOPO Batteries for homes and businesses. Mobile Power has already begun displacing fossil fuel across Nigeria, DRC, Sierra Leone and Liberia with MOPO Batteries that are charged on solar and rented out for 24hrs to customers. The project will test the feasibility of a new product the MOPO+. This enables existing customers to climb the energy ladder through providing more advanced clean energy provision. It will also allow Mobile Power to move to urban markets that are reliant on petrol generators and infrequent grid. Presently our operations are in rural and peri-urban areas. This feasibility project will see the beginning of a collaboration with Mobile Power and A2EI. This will enable Mobile Power to benefit from A2EI's experience of customer centred design expertise in designing products for the off-grid solar market. It will allow A2EI to recalibrate their field data on generator usage patterns since the fuel price trebled. The aim is to develop this collaboration into the second and third phase of the Ze-Gen Accelerator. Taking learnings from each stage to iterate the technology and business model of MOPOMax Plus to be able to target a significantly wider sector of the fossil-fuel generator market.