Solar Battery Hub There is a major challenge in making electricity accessible in off-grid communities in Nigeria as well as other parts of the world with limited energy access. While connected microgrid solutions have great potential, there is a real need for flexible and rapidly deployable solutions that can enable productive and transient electricity users to access affordable electricity.

The Solar Battery Hub brings a brand-new dimension to microgrid technologies for off-grid communities. By offering an entirely flexible solution to energy use with a new commercial model, the solution improves on and adds to more traditional, connected microgrid solutions. By focusing on productive users of energy, markets will be stimulated, accelerating the growth of clean energy and associated opportunities in rural parts of Nigeria.

The Solar Battery Hub will consist of a small solar array, connected to batteries of various sizes and capacities. This will enable productive energy users such as schools, medical centres, and markets stall operators to rent the batteries and take only the energy they need when they need it. This will reduce the overall cost burden of investing in fully connected micro-grid systems, which are often unaffordable or take a long time to get up and running.

During the project, we shall develop and refine a design for the solution based on extensive market research, including direct engagement with rural communities in Nigeria. We shall then test and demonstrate the solution on a small scale to seek feedback and inform future developments.

As well as helping to contribute to improved energy access and the prosperity that this brings, the Solar Battery Hub will address a range of wider challenges, including:

* Food Waste; enabling cooling for market stalls will help reduce the 45% of food currently wasted due to perishing in high temperatures.
* Health: the solution will enable primary healthcare centres to be powered, enabling drugs and vaccines to be stored for longer (by refrigerating) and lighting for night-time operations.
* Skills: by powering schools and education centres, the solution will help develop skills for young people in rural communities.
* Income: having temporary power solutions will enable small businesses and stalls to prosper, increasing economic activities.
* Equity: bringing power to rural areas will help narrow the gap between rural and city communities. Also 80% of market stall operators are women, enabling greater opportunity for gender equality. There is a major challenge in making electricity accessible in off-grid communities in Nigeria as well as other parts of the world with limited energy access. While connected microgrid solutions have great potential, there is a real need for flexible and rapidly deployable solutions that can enable productive and transient electricity users to access affordable electricity.

The Solar Battery Hub brings a brand-new dimension to microgrid technologies for off-grid communities. By offering an entirely flexible solution to energy use with a new commercial model, the solution improves on and adds to more traditional, connected microgrid solutions. By focusing on productive users of energy, markets will be stimulated, accelerating the growth of clean energy and associated opportunities in rural parts of Nigeria.

The Solar Battery Hub will consist of a small solar array, connected to batteries of various sizes and capacities. This will enable productive energy users such as schools, medical centres, and markets stall operators to rent the batteries and take only the energy they need when they need it. This will reduce the overall cost burden of investing in fully connected micro-grid systems, which are often unaffordable or take a long time to get up and running.

During the project, we shall develop and refine a design for the solution based on extensive market research, including direct engagement with rural communities in Nigeria. We shall then test and demonstrate the solution on a small scale to seek feedback and inform future developments.

As well as helping to contribute to improved energy access and the prosperity that this brings, the Solar Battery Hub will address a range of wider challenges, including:

* Food Waste; enabling cooling for market stalls will help reduce the 45% of food currently wasted due to perishing in high temperatures.
* Health: the solution will enable primary healthcare centres to be powered, enabling drugs and vaccines to be stored for longer (by refrigerating) and lighting for night-time operations.
* Skills: by powering schools and education centres, the solution will help develop skills for young people in rural communities.
* Income: having temporary power solutions will enable small businesses and stalls to prosper, increasing economic activities.
* Equity: bringing power to rural areas will help narrow the gap between rural and city communities. Also 80% of market stall operators are women, enabling greater opportunity for gender equality.