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Global Energy Transfer Feed-in Tariff (GETFiT)
UK - Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Global Energy Transfer for Feed-in Tariff (GET FiT) Programme was established in 2013 with the main objective of assisting Uganda to pursue a climate resilient low-carbon development path by facilitating private sector investments in renewable electricity generation projects. The support provided was expected to improve access to electricity and promote growth and economic development in Uganda and contribute to climate change mitigation.
Climate Public Private Partnership Programme (CP3)
UK - Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Climate Public Private Partnership Programme (CP3) aims to increase low carbon investment in renewable energy, water, energy efficiency and forestry in developing countries. By showing that Low Carbon and Climate Resilient investments can deliver competitive financial returns as well as climate and development impact, CP3 seeks to catalyse new sources of climate finance from institutional investors such as pension funds and sovereign wealth funds.
Clean Energy Innovation Facility (CEIF)
UK - Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
ODA grant funding that supports clean energy research, development & demonstration (RD&D) to help improve the performance of innovative technologies, and to accelerate the clean energy transition to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change in developing countries
Climate Investment Funds (CIFs)
UK - Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
The $8 billion Climate Investment Funds (CIF) accelerates climate action by empowering transformations in clean technology, energy access, climate resilience, and sustainable forests in developing and middle income countries. The CIF’s large-scale, low-cost, long-term financing lowers the risk and cost of climate financing. It tests new business models, builds track records in unproven markets, and boosts investor confidence to unlock additional sources of finance.
Accelerate to Demonstrate (A2D)
UK - Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
The A2D programme contributes to the UK’s £1bn Ayrton Fund commitment to accelerate clean energy innovation in developing countries. A2D will focus on developing innovative technology-based solutions particularly through transformational “lighthouse” pilot demonstration projects in four thematic areas: critical minerals, clean hydrogen, industrial decarbonisation and smart energy.
A Socio-technical Study of Electricity Demand, Efficiency and Flexibility in the Urban Housing Sector of Burkina Faso
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Universal access to a secure electricity supply is essential for the economic development and welfare of the population of Burkina Faso. Rapid urbanisation and an increased use of air conditioning (AC) has led to an 8.4% annual increase in the country's electricity demand since 2010. The nation's generation capacity is unable to keep up, resulting in frequent power outages, and a 45% dependence on energy imports creating high and volatile costs for consumers. An uninterrupted and affordable electricity supply would increase household incomes; improve education of children; save time and money collecting alternative fuels, particularly for women; improve the productivity of businesses; and accelerate the installation of new electricity connections. These direct benefits would reduce current rates of social and economic poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and emigration in the country. Upgrading the country's electricity generation and supply system is a long-term challenge, but in the short-term, our project partners, the Government of Burkina Faso and national electricity utility, SONABEL, believe the implementation of demand side management (DSM) programmes (electricity efficiency and flexibility) in the housing sector (which accounts for 33% of national electricity use) would better balance supply and demand and unlock these beneficial development outcomes. The Government has also committed to reduce electricity demand and improve energy efficiency in homes to cut Green House Gas emissions and help mitigate the effects of climate change, a phenomenon that disproportionately effects the Sahel region where Burkina Faso is located and is itself further exacerbating electricity demand as households are increasingly using AC to stay cool. However, at present, there is almost no data on household electricity demand, efficiency or flexibility in Burkina Faso for a successful, evidence based implementation of DSM. The aims and objectives of this research and partnership building project will address this substantial gap in knowledge. The project has been developed collaboratively with the Government of Burkina Faso and SONABEL to ensure the research delivers the data and evidence they need. For the direct research, a socio-technical residential electricity study will be undertaken with 100 households in Ouagadougou. Field measurements of electricity demands and internal temperatures of homes will provide empirical insights into households' electricity load profiles, use of AC, time-of-use and peak loads. An efficiency and flexibility survey will be completed to understand households' current practices and opportunities for improving energy efficiency at home, as well as identifying load shifting and curtailment actions that households would be willing to implement to prevent power outages. Diversity in responses due to the socio-technical characteristics of the households and dwellings will be studied. Simultaneously a range of partnership building activities (e.g. research visits, project meetings, workshops, mini conference) will be undertaken. These are tailored to the stage of the project programme to either inform the delivery of the direct research or form a platform for discussion, dissemination and impact generation of the research findings. An international network of 6 Universities will be created where future research on energy and development challenges in Burkina Faso and other African countries will stem. The network will also act as a platform for ongoing mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and skills. To deliver development impact within the project's life time, workshops with the Government and SONABEL will turn the research findings into evidence based recommendations to inform future policy and DSM programmes. Project partner GGGI will use their extensive network, to engage wider stakeholders and beneficiaries, so a range of routes to impact are achieved.
Renewable Energy Agro-Processing Hubs for Energy Access and Economic Development in Rural Rwanda
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Our project, REAP (Renewable Energy Agro-Processing) hub, is a transformative initiative aimed at empowering rural communities by providing sustainable access to renewable energy and enhancing their food production capacities. Through the integration of innovative technologies and community-driven approaches, we seek to create lasting social, economic, and environmental impact in underserved regions. At the heart of our project is the vision to address the energy poverty prevalent in remote rural areas, where communities face challenges due to lack of reliable and affordable energy. Bby harnessing the power of renewable energy, we can unlock tremendous potential, enabling these communities to improve their quality of life and drive sustainable development. We begin with robust community engagement and needs assessment to truly understand the energy requirements and aspirations users. By working closely with the target communities, we ensure that our solutions are tailored to their specific needs and integrate seamlessly into their daily lives. Through strategic partnerships (Smart Villages Research Group and NjordFrey), we will deploy renewable energy technologies to support high yield fish/vegetable production with value addition (cooling/food drying). Intelligently monitored and coordinated through a digital monitoring system, the REAP hub will automatically balance the energy and production demands to increase efficiency and reduce energy and production costs. The REAP project extends beyond energy access. We recognise the vital role of productive systems in rural communities, such as agriculture and small-scale enterprises. By incorporating energy into these systems, we unlock new opportunities for income generation, value-chain development, and market access. This integrated approach fosters economic growth, creates employment, and reduces poverty, ensuring long-term sustainability. Furthermore, our project aligns closely with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). By promoting renewable solutions and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, we contribute to combating climate change. The impact of the REAP project last far longer than our project implementation. The knowledge, skills, and partnerships developed throughout the project will serve as a catalyst for replication and scaling up to 2,000 hubs across Sub-Saharan Africa, fostering widespread adoption of renewable energy solutions and transformative development models. Through collaboration, innovation, and a deep commitment to sustainable development, REAP aims to empower rural communities, unlock their potential, and create a brighter future for all. Together, we can build resilient communities, promote Gender and Social inclusivity, and achieve a greener and more prosperous world.
Towards a new power infrastructure development path for rural Africa (PowerPath)
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Nanoé is a French-Malagasy social business moved by the ambition to amplify energy access and employment creation in rural Africa through the implementation of a new electrification model based on renewable energies, digital technologies and local entrepreneurship, named Lateral Electrification. In the PowerPath project Nanoé collaborates with Technovative Solutions Limited, the University of Lancaster, TWI Limited and The Power Hub Limited and seek funding to develop a first of a kind progressive technological concept that clusters smaller power infrastructures (from solar nanogrid, to DC microgrid, to DC/AC minigrid) to deliver more intense energy services (like motor or thermal uses) in a way that ensures stable, abundant energy access through solar. Further to technological development, the business model of PowerPath addresses a plurality of challenges related to the deployment and maintenance of the technologies related to the nanogrids/microgrids as they focus to the training and strong participation of not-skilled community members without gender discrimination to become technically skilled agents of the energy expansion. In this context the project addresses sustainable development goals: SDG-7 (access to energy), SDG-8 (access to employment) and SDG-13 (development of sustainable energy practices).
Safely transforming phytoremediation crops into bioenergy
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
This project will optimise technology to efficiently and safely produce biogas using plants grown on contaminated land. Terra Power is based in the UK and was founded to develop this technology. The project involves partners in the UK, UAE, and Indonesia. Our UK partner, Loughborough University, brings research expertise, AD capabilities, and all required lab equipment. Terra Power worked with Loughborough to deliver a successful proof-of-concept project, and published results in a co-authored paper in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Phytoremediation (June 2020) Our UAE partner, Zest Associates, brings cleantech commercialisation expertise, green finance expertise, start-up incubation experience and project leadership capabilities critical for successful delivery. Our Indonesian partner, Nexus3, brings access to test sites, skills in site characterisation, toxics management, and testing the production of mercury-absorbent polymer locally, maintaining relationships with target communities, policymakers and local subcontractors. This project supports the production of cost-effective and locally secure low-carbon energy for the energy-poor in countries affected by site contamination, tackling the energy trilemma. The project also delivers co-benefits including reduced carbon emissions, valorising remediation activities, improving health, especially of women and children, restoring soils, create local economic development, in turn addressing Sustainable Development Goals 1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 & 15, and supporting compliance with the UN Minamata Convention on Mercury.
Energy Makers Academy: A mobile learning platform for universities to train rural energy innovators
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
The number of people without access to electricity in Africa dropped from almost 860 million in 2018 to 770 million in 2019 (IEA et al., 2021). However, without more sustained efforts, it is predicted that 650 million people will still live without access to electricity in 2030, despite universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity by 2030 being a key Sustainable Development Goal (United Nations, 2015).
Energy Catalyst Round 11: supporting applicants finding partnerships via B2Match
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
The Energy Catalyst programme supports innovative businesses and organisations to find new partnerships via the B2Match platform and form consortiums to apply for Energy Catalyst Round 11.
Rice-straw powered biowaste to energy
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
This consortium, let by Carnot Ltd, seeks to develop the world's first profitable rice-straw bioenergy demonstrator for a rural community in Lombok Island, Indonesia. Rice straw is separated from the grains during harvesting and either combusted (producing CO2) or left to decompose (producing methane with 25\* Global Warming Potential) due to challenges with harvesting it, particularly in flooded paddy fields (a common occurrence). Straw Innovations has created innovative technology that overcomes the barriers to harvesting it in all weathers, unlocking a potential 300Mt of rice straw generated in Asia every year. Rice straw has high ash content (around 20%), comprising about 75% silica. This, combined with other components in the straw (chlorine, potassium) causes melting and slagging / fouling in boilers when combusted. Hence, it is not an easy fuel to chop or combust. PyroGenesys have developed a lower-temperature pyrolysis process which can convert rice straw into Biochar, a carbon-sequestering fertiliser that can be used by the rice farmers, and biofuel. The carbon sequestered can be traded on carbon removal markets. Surplus biofuel not used to generate electricity can be sold. Electricity is a low-value commodity and renewable electricity projects will typically require very large scale to be profitable and attract funding required from investors. PyroGenesys' process solves this problem by opening up two very high-value revenue streams. Carnot is developing ceramic engine gensets with double the efficiency of state-of-the-art diesel gensets, capable of operating on all fuels. These will provide electricity to the rice mills as their base load as well as electricity to a rural community. Integrating Carnot's gensets enables revenues generated by biofuel sales to be maximised. Indonesia: * Is the world's 5th largest GHG emitter. * Is the largest producer of biofuels worldwide. * Has mandated to convert a significant portion of its palm oil into FAME biodiesel. There is a reluctance to move to renewable energy due to fossil fuel sunk costs/subsidies and no proven profitable off-grid low-carbon energy business model. This demonstrator project aims to be the catalyst to breaking the deadlock and unleashing investment into Indonesia's enormous renewable energy potential. Key project outputs: * Pilot-scale demonstration of business model feasibility * 200,000kg rice-straw feedstock; * 76,000kg value-added-biochar/53,200kg carbon sequestration/80,000kg biofuel; * 2.28MWh electricity provided to rice mill.
Technical and Societal Innovation for Delivering Access to Community Wide Affordable Cylindered CBG for Cooking and Sustainable Fertiliser
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Natural Synergies Ltd (NS) Industrial Research project "Technical/Societal Innovation for Delivering Community Wide Affordable Cylindered CBG for Cooking and Sustainable Fertiliser" is to establish new data and knowledge, which would eventually lead to establishing an demonstration waste to energy process based around an advanced anaerobic digestion treatment process that has been developed by NS. This seminal development work will utilise a sectoral system of innovation which will eventually lead to nationwide joint partnerships, between NS the (technology provider) and poorer sectors of the local community. NS together with project partners, are involved in a project that concerns advanced pre-treatment and processing of faecal sludge and organic waste, providing enhanced, efficient energy security/generation, utilising locally available resource and GHG emission savings. NS aims in this Industrial Research project, to develop a stand-alone enhanced energy pre-processing technology, for rural and peri-urban locations in developing countries, increasing the efficiency of energy generation for the supply of affordable clean energy, for cooking and transport to the poor and marginalised local community and also with the production and supply of a sustainable source of fertiliser to local farmers. The decentralised and localised waste to energy plant, will also serve as a low cost faecal sludge management system and organic waste treatment facility, preventing the dumping of waste into waterways and land, providing benefits to both the environment and health to the local community. During the course of the project, the team will work in close co-operation with existing co-operatives and where necessary, expand and create further entrepreneurial partnerships, encouraging women's empowerment, social inclusion and security in the overall waste supply chain and product sales and marketing. This will lead to establishing a circular economy for waste treatment with close co-operation between the energy plant operator and the local community. Although specialised components will be sourced in the UK, NS will establish non-specialised component manufacture/build using local industries leading to job creation in DC, economies in plant build, short inbound/outbound feedstock and product supply logistics, marketing, sales and service supply chain.
Fiji WAVEFLOW
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
With the increasing demand for clean energy in island nations to achieve the ambitious decarbonisation goals for a net-zero future, where limited land availability poses a significant challenge for onshore renewable solutions, our ocean-based technology provides a game-changing solution that also tackles the challenges in offshore renewables deployment. Our innovative wave energy solution is designed to work seamlessly with existing floating wind systems, delivering clean, reliable, and affordable energy to land-constrained island nations facing energy access and energy equality challenges. Combining wind and wave power optimises energy production, reducing overall costs. This cost-effectiveness makes clean energy accessible to a wider population, helping bridge the energy gap and promoting equality among communities. This compatibility also allows for efficient use of infrastructure and capitalises on established offshore wind installations. We maximise efficiency and minimise installation and maintenance costs by leveraging these synergies. We are also committed to minimising the environmental impact associated with energy production. Our wave technology harnesses the power of nature without disturbing marine ecosystems, ensuring a harmonious coexistence between renewable energy generation and marine life preservation. By deploying our wave technology alongside floating wind systems, island nations can overcome energy challenges and pave the way for a cleaner and more sustainable future. Our solution brings a transformative change, empowering communities and contributing to a more equitable and environmentally conscious world.
GoHubs Mozambique Green Fishing and Cold Chain Hubs
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
GoHubs Mozambique is a transformative network of solar-battery microgrid hubs serving the artisanal fishing sector in coastal communities of Mozambique. The primary objective of GoHubs is to provide smart reliable renewable energy solutions, infrastructure and equipment to unlock market access, reduce fish losses, and bolster the local fishing sector. The artisanal fishing industry plays a crucial role in Mozambique, accounting for 90% of the total catch and with over 15% of households depending on it for their livelihoods. However, inadequate energy and transport infrastructure in coastal areas restrict the availability of resources such as ice, cold storage, and access to non-local markets. These limitations lead to significant fish losses and reduced incomes within the sector. To address these challenges and create new opportunities, GoHubs introduces a pioneering business model that combines significant technological and commercial innovations. From a technical perspective, GoHubs integrates energy-intensive operations like ice production, cold storage, water pumping, and electric refrigerated transport into an integrated hub, powered by an on-site solar-battery microgrid. Smart control and load management system, ensures a reliable and efficient power supply and optimises across the critical loads. The entire systems is also integrated onto a single monitoring platform to simplify operations. From a commercial standpoint, this bundling approach ensures that a continuous reliable cold chain from boat to market is effectively and sustainably established. Furthermore, this strategy facilitates economies of scale, resulting in lower unit costs for ice and services. GoHubs not only sells ice and cold storage services but also supports the trading of local fish, providing electric refrigerated transport to larger markets. The business model also enhances resilience by diversifying revenue streams, and by including electric vehicle charging reduces the impact of volatile fossil fuel costs on transportation. By providing ice and services instead of selling energy units, GoHubs mitigates the uncertainty associated with the current regulatory environment. GoHubs is a pilot deployment in Inhambane Province on a public-private partnership model with a community fish market. GoHubs expects to improve the livelihoods of the fishing sector workers and the broader community through improved catch quality, better and reliable market access, and reduced losses and wastage and replicate the model across Mozambique and other countries where renewable and reliable cold chain can unlock green growth.
An Open-Water Demonstration of INWave Wave Energy Converter Power Plant in Vietnam
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
INWave, the onshore-type Wave Energy Converter, is suitable for shoreline and remote islands. IWES's business goal is to offer clean, affordable and reliable Wave Energy Converters, with a Simple, Scalable & Sustainable technology. The technology has been proven to be feasible at prototype level since 2015, with a Seal of Excellence award by European Commission's Horizon 2020 programme in 2016, MEA (Marine Energy Alliance) award achieving TRL 6-7 evaluation in 2019, and a successful Energy Catalyst Round 9 funding in 2022. INWave provides the unique approaches of: deploying the power generation device onshore, harvesting wave energy from the shallow nearshore water, and using the whole range of wave movements. It ensures durability, safety and affordability. This reduces costs and time, enabling sustainable supply for the smaller scale local market needs. INWave innovation brings access to clean and affordable energy to the coastal community. It is competitive with expensive diesel generators, which are commonplace in fishery harbours and remote coastal areas in Vietnam. In particular, in remotely scattered islands in the South China Sea (Vietnamese East Sea), meeting energy demand is very expensive relying on fossil-fuel based energy, due to the logistic and volatile cost conditions. Diesel generators, kerosene lamps and burning wood cooking are common occurrences. There is huge potential ocean energy in Vietnam and in Asia-Pacific Ocean countries that could be utilised to generate electricity. One of the beneficiaries of planned wave power plants are coastal communities from relatively traditional fishery, farming and aquacultural communities. This innovative technology will provide them with increased energy security at a lower cost and with largely reduced CO2 emissions. The object of the proposed project is to complete and demonstrate the successful construction and commissioning of a Wave Energy Pilot Plant in the selected site in Vietnam. Through appropriate project assessments, the pilot power plant is expected to yield significant impacts in technical, social, economic, and environmental aspects. The proposed innovation to be installed in a remote island is an onshore-type WEC technology. Onshore, because as opposed to most other offshore WECs under development, its power generation unit is located on the shoreline and not at sea. This design enables system stability, significant cost reductions and makes clean energy infrastructure investment more affordable. We will maintain collaborative partnerships with all relevant government stakeholders, which ensure project adequation with the country's sustainable development targets and regulatory framework, such as PDP8.
BioEnergy Powering Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods Enhancement- BEPeARLe
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
According to the International Energy Agency, 770 million people worldwide do not have access to electricity today, primarily in Asia and Africa. Energy insecurity is one of the biggest problems in rural areas because poor grid infrastructure and connections are a significant contributor to the lack of access to power, which impedes socioeconomic development. Rural electrification will not only spur economic growth but also narrow the urban-rural divide. How can we address energy infrastructure on a budget when high-capacity batteries are (mostly) prohibitively expensive? Solar photovoltaics (PV) is already a tried-and-true method of producing electricity off-grid. Our vision is to provide all three components of the energy trilemma - affordability, reliability, and sustainability of clean energy access - to marginalized communities in five target countries -- Botswana, Cambodia, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia, via our Agrivoltaic Solar - Biomass Gasification - Biogas Hybrid system. Mandulis, through its zero-waste circular economy model, generates clean energy solutions from waste, enabling smallholder farmers to access clean electricity for powering their households and businesses, clean cooking fuel, energy-saving cookstoves, agricultural processing services, and soil enhancers. The uniqueness of our circular economy model, leveraging on and revalorizing residues and byproducts of the process, makes all these goods and services affordable, reliable, and sustainable for smallholder farmers, having a great positive impact on poverty alleviation, climate resilience, and biodiversity protection. This project will demonstrate the economic benefits that can be achieved by integrating agriculture and energy. As a core business objective of Mandulis Energy, bringing these two sectors together will foster cross-sectoral engagement, stimulate business opportunities, and partnerships between smallholder farmers in the targeted areas with larger economic players. It will also develop locally the skills necessary to put these multifunctional technologies into use and keep them maintained. To disseminate knowledge, comprehend end-user requirements, and develop a supply-chain integration strategy, we will work directly with local communities, energy developers, and SMEs in all target countries as we implement: 12 PV - biomass gasification - digestion systems in Uganda (6 sites - 100 kW, 1 site - 500 kW), Botswana (1 sites - 100 kW), Nigeria (1 site - 100 kW), Zambia (1 site - 100 kW) and Cambodia (1 site - 100 kW), generating low carbon, reliable, affordable and productive renewable energy to drive post-harvest processing, clean cooking fuel and biofertilisers.
Project GANESHA - Getting power Access to rural-Nepal through thermally cooled battery Energy storage for transport and Home Applications
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Project GANESHA focusses on development, manufacture and implementation of an innovative battery module solution for powering Nepal rural-based small passenger vehicles and off-grid low-power home energy systems. Solar-power installations will be constructed to pilot our innovation in two seperate rural-Nepal pilot sites with marginal-/zero-power access. Our consortium including three-UK and two-Nepal organisations, was formed to assist solution-development for commercial challenges faced by the Nepal Electric Vehicle Institute (NEVI) in achieving its ambition to provide Nepal-wide zero-carbon public-transport/power access. NEVI were established in the mid-1990s when growing urban-population densities led to exponential-increase in urban-internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle registrations/polluton. NEVI were pioneers in retrofitting Nepal-ICE-rickshaws to EV, and developing battery-solutions to power these vehicles. It rents batteries to marginalised-/low income-communities through its its affordable model, to facilitate their independant-income-generation (60% of its work-force being female). Limitations of Nepal's rural-/urban-location power grid/distribution restrict EV-rollout across the country. NEVI are forced to depot-recharge EV-rickshaws during night-periods when power-demand is low and risk of powercuts are minimised. Limited depot-space and grid-power restrictions limit EV-rickshaws numbers NEVI can provide each location's public-transport market. NEVI wish to access solar-power to charge vehicle battery packs and envision a removable solution simlar to products currently marketed in India and Sub-Saharan Africa to expand its service to rural-communities where solutions are most needed (aligning with its original mission). However, current module-products are recharged at low C-rates and require large capital-investment. To supply a public-transport EV-fleet NEVI would require large module-stocks and high-area solar-arrays. Our projects innovation/case study-sites resolve this dilemma. A new module will be designed, manufactured, and mobilised incorporating PAK-Engineering Ltd's robust-/lightweight-heat exchanger technology. PAK's system facilitates high C-rate charging and design-versatility enabling PAK to adapt/optimise its function to suit multiple environmental-conditions. EPT Ltd will design module-incorporated state-sensor/communications technology so module-function is optimised, and location tracked when in use. Gamma-Meon Ltd will design, adapt and incorporate a specilised payment systems platform that EV-rickshaw operators and users will use to access NEVI services. Our solution will reduce mentioned-capital investment-requirments, and enable rollout to two rural-communities with marginal-/zero-power access in project-timescales. NEVI via partneship with Nepal-famed gender/social-equity pioneer 3 Sisters Trekking Group will construct two rural-solar arrays for charging our-modules, for powering 8-10 EV-vehicles adapted to location-conditions, and provide home-energy-kits for lighting and small-device charging for imroving life-quality in these locations.
Project RICE (Renewable, Inclusive, Carbon-positive Energy)
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
PROBLEM Modern agriculture is so critically dependent on fossil fuel inputs that they often outweigh energy outputs from the food produced. Hence modern farming has been described as "the use of land to convert oil into food". Undoubtedly, diesel-powered mechanisation has greatly reduced backbreaking drudgery for countless millions of farmers, and conversion of natural-gas into ammonia/nitrogen fertilisers is currently feeding a third of humanity. Nevertheless, the downsides are painfully obvious: Input Costs: Centralised production/distribution of fossil fuels mean farmers in remote areas across Africa and Asia often pay more than double for diesel-fuel/N-fertilisers. Those who cannot afford them are stuck in cycles of hard labour/low-yields/poverty. Those who can afford them lose around 60% at point-of-use(waste-heat from engines, or leaching/volatilisation from N-fertilisers). Food Prices: Food uses around a third of all energy globally, so when fossil-fuel prices rise, food prices follow, creating political instability and hardship for the world's most vulnerable(urban-poor and farmers in developing countries). Greenhouse Gas(GHG) Emissions: Agricultural emissions continue to rise, accelerating climate change, disproportionately impacting farmers in developing countries. VISION Development of efficient agricultural technologies powered by renewable energy to lower emissions whilst increasing farmer productivity and profitability in developing countries. Our focus is on the world's number 1 food crop: rice. Known as a "Poverty Crop"(low-margins for smallholder-farmers). Responsible for 48% of all crop GHG emissions. 91% of rice is produced/consumed in Asia. Straw Innovations("SI") (British SME operating in the Philippines) has pioneered a suite of technologies for collecting rice straw at harvest-time, avoiding field-burning/rotting that accounts for almost half of rice emissions. In this project, they will convert their "straw-catcher" machine to run on solar-PV electricity/batteries instead of diesel. Takachar(multi-award-winning Indian SME) has developed a cost-effective mobile biochar production unit that can transform rice straw from a major pollutant into a vast carbon sink. They will make a 10x scaled-up version and send it to SI, who will tap the waste process heat for the first time to dry rice, instead of diesel/kerosene. The char will then be returned to the farmers' fields as a more efficient fertiliser/soil-amendment, incorporated by the same SI electric "rice/straw-collectors" that harvested it. SI will also send their machines from the Philippines to India mid-project and the two countries will test out different business models for farmer adoption/benefit. Aston University(home of SUPERGEN Bioenergy Hub) leading sustainability specialists will invite stakeholder feedback and also calculate GHG savings from the new system.
Solar And Biogas Off-grid Power (SABOP) for Rwenjeru Agrotourism and Demonstration Farm, Mbarara, Uganda.
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
In this project, we will integrate of 2 well-established technologies (solar photovoltaic power and biomethane from biodigestion of waste biomass) to create a 24-hours' all-weather electricity supply minigrid that will tackle the colossal lack of access to energy in Uganda (particularly Rwenjeru Agrotourism and Demonstration Farm). Also, we will implement a renewable milk chiller as a productive use of energy at Rwenjeru. Furthermore, we will conduct a market analysis and develop a business plan for the viable and affordable deployment of the project outcome and for future scale-up beyond the project. Our waste-to-energy anaerobic digestion system will help to process food and agricultural waste that will otherwise pollute the environment, into clean renewable energy (24hrs) for an agrotourism business and \>1,000 farmer's household. By performing initial socio-economic appraisal, we will access the affordability of potential end-users and the viability of the SABOP energy platform. We will leverage on the intrinsic waste-to-energy approach of the SABOP system to match the affordability of Ugandans. The implementation of a smart minigrid allows us to accurately measure loading and generation capacity of SABOP and to effectively plan for expansion into neighbouring communities. We will engage with local and national stakeholders to ensure buy-in and share outcomes from the project to improve energy policy in Uganda. The use of biomethane as an alternative to gasoil is expected to improve local air quality, with regards to NOx and particulate matter. We will reduce Rwenjeru's dependence on highly polluting diesel and petrol powered electricity generators. By generating electricity with solar power instead of fossil fuels, we can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2). Our stakeholders and community engagement (workshops, social media, and flyers) will increase environmental awareness and prompt end-users to be more resource efficient in other parts of their daily life. Reliable electricity supply from the SABOP system will improved street and community lighting which will enhance security in Rwenjeru. By increasing the productivity and profitability through energy access, as well as providing cheaper biofertilizer to farmers (76% women), households will be able to improve the quality and quantity of food in the homes with positive impact on the general health and well-being of people.
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