Projects to explore cheaper, cleaner alternatives to fossil fuel generators in Nigeria and the Philippines awarded share of £2 million

Twenty projects aiming to advance renewable energy-based alternatives to fossil-fuelled generators in the Philippines and Nigeria have been selected to receive a share of £2 million, as part of the first phase of the Zero Emission Generators (ZE-Gen) Technology Accelerator.

Of the estimated 25 million fossil-fuelled generators relied upon worldwide, three million generators are used in Nigeria and one million in the Philippines.

The ZE-Gen Technology Accelerator is a multi-stage competition with £10.8 million in funding for projects that aims to fast-track the innovations needed to effectively replace fossil-fuelled generators with renewable energy-based alternatives in target regions.

The Accelerator is part of the ZE-Gen initiative, which was launched at COP27 and is a collaborative initiative led by the Carbon Trust and Innovate UK with support from the IKEA Foundation and UK aid through the UK Government’s Ayrton Fund.

The projects successfully selected for the initial ‘Discover’ phase of the Accelerator now have 10 months to explore their projects’ feasibility and deepen partnerships with local collaborators.

James Coombs OBrien, Innovation Lead – Energy at Innovate UK said:

“The financial, social and environmental cost of continuing to run fossil fuel generators is so significant for people and planet. Accelerating the development of renewable energy-based alternatives is vital, so we are delighted to welcome twenty projects that have proposed innovative solutions to the first phase of the ZE-Gen Technology Accelerator.  

“Across an array of technology and business models, the projects offer innovative approaches, tailored to the bespoke needs of the target regions and local populations. Ensuring these ideas work in practice is the crucial next step, and the projects will now assess the feasibility of their plans alongside local partners.”

With the cost of fuel rising in Nigeria and the Philippines, many projects focus on the affordability of renewable energy in regions that are off-grid or have unreliable grid supply, where dependence on diesel generators is high.

Further projects selected in Nigeria include:

  • A partnership between Mobile Power and Access to Energy Institute (A2EI) to create ‘MOPO HUBS’, pay-per-use solar-powered batteries
  • Botanic Energy and University of Oxford are working together to develop a solar-powered generator for energy storage, cooking and cooling.
  • Tree Associates is leading the development of an AirBattery which stores energy in the form of compressed air.
  • E-waste Intel Collector, Hinckley E-waste Recycling Nigeria, and Hinckley E-waste Recycling UK are working together to create a prototype of repurposed battery technology
  • The ZeroEPowerGen project, led by PCM Products in partnership with Rubitec and the University of Nottingham
  • Wave Insight is working to develop SMART4ER, an integrated smart-metered battery
  • Anfani, in partnership with Sirius-X Energy, is working to develop a combined renewable technology using vertical-axis wind turbines and solar panels
  • Moonlight Energy, Microfinance Bank and Newcastle University have come together to develop a portable swap battery station
  • Aed Energy is developing thermal batteries with integrated thermophotovoltaic cells
  • Alp Technologies is developing grid backup battery storage technology
  • The SPARC project, led by dpSun and Ceesolar Energy, seeks to develop a solar-based mini-grid
  • Eja-Ice, Aston University, and Kinderenergy are working in partnership to develop hybrid-wind and solar-powered generators
  • The SEP (The Solar Energy Port) project developed by Gamma Meon in partnership with PAS Solar Nigeria to introduce user-friendly, cost-effective energy solutions
  • ThinkClock, Celloop, and Decibels Lab Private have formed a consortium to repurpose retired battery cells from e-waste, sourced from electric vehicles
  • Centre for Energy Equality and PAM Africa Green Power Generation Company are collaborating to develop a solar-powered battery-swapping station
  • MobACE is a collaborative initiative by Sleekabyte Technologies and Citibim Nigeria leveraging solar energy to offer a sustainable and flexible energy solution

In the Philippines,

  • The REPHIRE project (Resilient Electricity for the Philippines through Intelligent Renewable Energy), led by Swanbarton and Light of Hope Philippines, seeks to develop a ‘Resilient Community Microgrid’ (RCM)
  • BPP Renewables and Future Value and Climate Foundation Inc are working together to develop a solar-hydrogen production system to provide fossil-free power, clean water and oxygen for Garcia Memorial Provincial Hospital
  • The Mobile Power for an Island Nation project, led by Doublemsc Solutions to develop, Enstorel, a cleantech system that provides reliable access to renewable electricity
  • Magnetic Enhancement Technologies for Affordable Battery Storage (MET-ABS) led by Gaussion, is exploring the development of low-cost battery storage units with magnetic enhancement components

Following the ‘Discover’ phase which ends on 31 March 2025, the most promising and successful projects will be selected to progress to the ‘Lift-off’ phase – focusing on industrial research and product development to test innovations. The final ‘Flight’ phase of the ZE-Gen Technology Accelerator will focus on experimental development, involving the demonstration and validation of innovations in-country.