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.

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.

Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund Round 3

Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs

Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is the fifth most lucrative transnational crime, worth up to £17bn a year globally. As well as threatening species with extinction, IWT destroys vital ecosystems. IWT also fosters corruption, feeds insecurity, and undermines good governance and the rule of law. The UK government is committed to tackling illegal trade of wildlife products. Defra manages the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, which is a competitive grants scheme with the objective of tackling illegal wildlife trade and, in doing so, contributing to sustainable development in developing countries. Projects funded under the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund address one, or more, of the following themes: • Developing sustainable livelihoods to benefit people directly affected by IWT • Strengthening law enforcement • Ensuring effective legal frameworks • Reducing demand for IWT products Over £23 million has been committed to 75 projects since the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund was established in 2013; five projects were awarded in 2014 (via applications to the Darwin Initiative), fourteen in 2015, fifteen in 2016, thirteen in 2017, fourteen in 2018 and in the latest round in 2019. This round of funding includes the following projects (details of which can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/811381/iwt-project-list-2019.pdf). The projects that a relevant for this area are IWT035 to IWT047.

Darwin Initiative Round 23

Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs

The Darwin Initiative is a UK government grants scheme that helps to protect biodiversity and the natural environment through locally based projects worldwide. The initiative funds projects that help countries rich in biodiversity but poor in financial resources to meet their objectives under one or more of the biodiversity conventions. The objective is to to address threats to biodiversity such as: - habitat loss or degradation - climate change - invasive species - over-exploitation - pollution and eutrophication.

Darwin Initiative Round 26

Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs

The Darwin Initiative is a UK government grants scheme that helps to protect biodiversity and the natural environment through locally based projects worldwide. The initiative funds projects that help countries rich in biodiversity but poor in financial resources to meet their objectives under one or more of the biodiversity conventions. The objective is to to address threats to biodiversity such as: - habitat loss or degradation - climate change - invasive species - over-exploitation - pollution and eutrophication

Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund Round 6

Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs

Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is the fifth most lucrative transnational crime, worth up to £17bn a year globally. As well as threatening species with extinction, IWT destroys vital ecosystems. IWT also fosters corruption, feeds insecurity, and undermines good governance and the rule of law. The UK government is committed to tackling illegal trade of wildlife products. Defra manages the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, which is a competitive grants scheme with the objective of tackling illegal wildlife trade and, in doing so, contributing to sustainable development in developing countries. Projects funded under the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund address one, or more, of the following themes: • Developing sustainable livelihoods to benefit people directly affected by IWT • Strengthening law enforcement • Ensuring effective legal frameworks • Reducing demand for IWT products Over £26 million has been committed to 85 projects since the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund was established in 2013; five projects were awarded in 2014 (via applications to the Darwin Initiative), fourteen in 2015, fifteen in 2016, thirteen in 2017, fourteen in 2018 and thirteen in 2019 and ten in the latest round in 2020. (more info here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/919053/iwt-challenge-fund-list.pdf): IWT076, IWT077, IWT078, IWT082, IWT083, IWT079, IWT080, IWT081, IWT084, IWT085

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.

Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund Round 7

Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs

Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is a widespread and lucrative criminal activity causing major global environmental and social harm. The IWT has been estimated to be worth up to £17 billion a year. Nearly 6,000 different species of fauna and flora are impacted, with almost every country in the world playing a role in the illicit trade.

• Developing sustainable livelihoods to benefit people directly affected by IWT,

• Strengthening law enforcement,

• Ensuring effective legal frameworks,

• Reducing demand for IWT products.

By 2023 over £51 million has been committed to 157 projects since the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund was established in 2013. This round of funding includes the following projects: IWT086 to IWT107. Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/illegal-wildlife-trade-challenge-fund-iwtcf (Language: English)

Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund Round 8

Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs

Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is a widespread and lucrative criminal activity causing major global environmental and social harm. The IWT has been estimated to be worth up to £17 billion a year. Nearly 6,000 different species of fauna and flora are impacted, with almost every country in the world playing a role in the illicit trade.

• Developing sustainable livelihoods to benefit people directly affected by IWT,

• Strengthening law enforcement,

• Ensuring effective legal frameworks,

• Reducing demand for IWT products.

By 2023 over £51 million has been committed to 157 projects since the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund was established in 2013. This round of funding includes the following projects: IWTEX001, IWTEV001-008, IWT108-120. Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/illegal-wildlife-trade-challenge-fund-iwtcf (Language: English)

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 and https://www.darwininitiative.org.uk/

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.

Repurposed Batteries for Zero Emission Generators in Nigeria (ReBatt-ZEGen)

DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Lagos suffers from a similar fate of many urban areas, high pollution with PM2.5 levels over 14 times higher than recommended by WHO, it is estimated that 30,000 people in Lagos die every year due to pollution (World Bank, 2022). The highest consumer of fossil fuels in Nigeria is the telecoms industry (New Telegraph Ng, 2023), due to their need for stable power solutions with an unreliable grid, backup generators are utilised. While solar solutions are available, the lack of recycling/repurposing opportunities in Africa remains a challenge and is producing large amounts of e-waste. This project consortium aims to address these challenges through producing a repurposed battery solution for replacement of fossil fuel generators, reducing battery waste, while providing a net zero solution for the sector which can rapidly respond to the needs of the market. The telecoms market currently have sky rocketing costs, increasing by 233% due to greatly increasing fuel costs. Beyond this specific market, the repurposed battery solution will be designed to be highly flexible for alternative markets, such as cold store battery storage, another key opportunity market in Nigeria with an estimated market opportunity of $5.9 billion in Cold Chain Infrastructure by 2030 (EforA, 2023). The solution will enable a circular battery chain value and the partners are poised in the market to advance with the solution, with the market already viewing Hinckley Nigeria as the option in Nigeria for responsible recycling due to its efforts in the sector. The consortium is therefore able to advance the solution in both the Nigerian and UK market, through project partner Hinckley UK who will work to expand the consortium for future projects enabling a further advancement of the TRL level of this projects prototype. Working with research partner Ewaste Collectors Association provides research opportunities to tackle the risk associated with the project, such as responsible sourcing supply and interaction with the informal collection sector. The resulting project, its outputs and deliverables will provide a prototype solution, integrated into the telecoms market, providing a use case for the solution and therefore a market opportunity to be exploited. With outcomes focused on further development in follow on projects with strong UK-Nigeria collaborations.

Feasibility Studies for the Solar-Wind Hybrid Power System in Nigeria

DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

This project is set to revolutionise the renewable energy landscape in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, where energy challenges are abundant. Comprising vertical-axis wind turbines and solar panels, our system will seamlessly combine two renewable energy sources to ensure a consistent and uninterrupted power supply, replacing fossil fuel generators, regardless of weather conditions. While the global adoption of solar and wind energy is not new, our project brings a fresh perspective to the Nigerian market. We proudly stand as the first micro-wind turbine company in Nigeria, showcasing our expertise in manufacturing wind turbines and low revolution per minute (RPM) axial flux generators. This not only guarantees energy sustainability but also establishes us as pioneers of innovation and promoting local content in Nigeria's renewable energy sector. Our journey began with the development of a project on this system after analysing a decade of wind data in Kano State, which not only garnered recognition but also secured multiple awards. Our project has received accolades from prestigious platforms, winning competitions such as the Falling Lab competition and representing Nigeria at Germany's Falling Walls Science Summit Berlin. Through Innovation Week workshops and lectures at TU9 Universities in Germany, we honed our business plan and entrepreneurial skills with the support of industry experts. Validation from Aachen University of Technology in Germany and Bayero University Kano, Nigeria, further underscores the credibility of our technology. We proudly earned the title of the most outstanding innovation at the Nigeria International Energy Conference in March 2022 and were named the best climate mitigation startup by the Global Cleantech Innovation Program (GCIP) in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Our commitment to addressing energy challenges has been recognised globally, with awards such as the third-best clean energy business idea by the African Fellowship for Young Energy Leaders. We got recognised by BP (British Petroleum) due to our commitment to accelerating the energy transition, this made us part of the NetZero scholar at the One Young World Summit in Belfast. Notably, we received personal acknowledgment from the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University Kano after successfully powering a classroom with this project which acted as initial proof of concept. Once we complete the feasibility studies to fully transform this project into a more reliable, sustainable solar-wind hybrid system, this will represent a transformative force in providing sustainable and reliable energy to communities in need.