Nigeria has one fossil-fuel generator for every nine people, and this project aims to replace them entirely with a locally built hybrid system that combines solar panels, vertical-axis wind turbines, battery storage, and thermal storage. The problem is acute: generators are expensive, polluting, and unreliable, yet they power the small and medium enterprises that form Nigeria’s economic backbone. Previous feasibility studies showed that locally produced vertical-axis micro-wind turbines can operate even in low-wind conditions, but the system still failed when the sun didn’t shine or the wind didn’t blow. This phase integrates battery and thermal storage so that renewable power is available around the clock, across different business types. If successful, the project could eliminate the need for generator sets entirely in the long term. It also tackles adoption barriers through digital financing models, blockchain-backed carbon credits, and circular-economy plans for end-of-life components. The consortium includes a digital renewables brokerage, a technology firm, the University of Oxford’s Circular Economy and Sustainability Lab, and specialists in second-life EV batteries and thermal storage. Local manufacturing and job creation are built into the design, making the system scalable and maintainable within Nigeria.
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Ratio of fossil-generators to Nigeria's 220-million population is 1:9, and our project is dedicated to drastically reducing this ratio in the short-term and eliminating generator sets completely in the long-term. Building on an initial project comprising vertical-axis wind turbines-solar panels hybrid system, this project phase integrates battery and thermal storage technologies into the initial system, ensuring generators cannot only be replaced at all times of the day, but across varying types of SMEs, Nigeria's economic bedrock. In addition to the technology innovation, our project also brings business model and digital innovations to eliminate technology adoption barriers and increase affordability. Results from initially funded feasibility studies for what would be Nigeria's first locally produced vertical-axis micro-wind turbines, enable this newly integrated system to efficiently operate even in low-wind environments in any part of the country. This local focus also ensures capacity building, job creation, and future refinements. The **Consortium** on this project is a collaborative initiative uniting technology, business, and digital innovation expertise from diverse sectors to address critical energy challenges in Nigeria, particularly fossil-generators. This partnership brings together award-winning solutions in renewable hybrid systems, advanced battery technologies, innovative consumer financing, thermal storage, and circular economy to create scalable and impactful outcomes. * **Anfani,** the **administrative lead**, runs a digital renewables brokerage platform, bridging the gap between financiers and end-users. By leveraging its financing models, blockchain-backed technologies, and ongoing work in carbon credits/RECs implementation, it is dedicated to improving affordability and quality of renewables. * **Sirius-X**, the **technology lead**, focuses on pioneering **Solar-Wind Hybrid Systems** integrated with locally manufactured components. Its solutions ensure reliable energy generation and local capacity building while minimizing environmental impact. * **The University of Oxford's Circular Economy and Sustainability Lab:** Reputable, renowned voices in Circular economy backed by UKRI, EPSRC, ESRC and other such bodies, are bringing expertise through Anfani in further helping develop end-of-life circularity plans for these systems * **ThinkClock** specializes in repurposing second-life batteries from electric vehicles and e-waste. By integrating into hybrid systems, ThinkClock provides cost-effective energy storage solutions. * **Gyre Energy**'s partnership with the Oxford Cooling Institute and expertise in advanced thermal energy storage and cooling systems ensures innovations supporting various applications, off-grid environments and cooling systems. * **Strategic Women and Youth Institute (SWYI)**'s enhancement of marginalized community inclusion through skills development, job creations, and off-take of our prototypes. This project is committed to cleanly replacing fossil powered-generators, addressing energy poverty, and promoting sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.
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