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.
Most marketplaces in Africa and emerging market, in general, are typically constructed from materials that do not allow for temperature-controlled storage of perishable goods, resulting in high levels of food wastage. An estimated £1.6 billion of income is lost in Eastern and Southern Africa alone every year due to post-harvest wastage.
Food spoilage is a health, economic and environmental hazard that leads to resource waste.
Otaski Energy Solutions (OtaskiES) is pioneering Africa's first intelligent marketplace utilising renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and machine learning energy management technology to deliver tailored place-based circular economies and reduce energy cost/emission in marketplaces -- Market-outlets for Energy-efficient Consumption and Connection Access in Africa (MECCA2). This is targeted at achieving scalable sustainable energy, reduce food wastage in the agricultural value chain and provide equality, diversity and social inclusion.
The MECCA2 project provides temperature-controlled infrastructures to reduce food perishability in Sub-Saharan Africa and all markets of the developing world. We effectively use solar energy in conjunction with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to deliver sustainable, affordable and reliable energy access to marketplaces whilst also reducing food-miles through on-site food storage/production. This is achieved by designing/building marketplaces with roof-top solar panels that cater to various energy needs.
MECCA2 positively impacts the following areas of Africa's agricultural value chain:
1\. Post-harvest loss
2\. Energy access
3\. Infrastructure and cold/warm storage
4\. Water access sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
5\. Waste management
6\. Market trading activities/operations
This is a first-of-its-kind holistic solution that combines:
1\. Sustainable food storage solutions
2\. Renewable energy sources
3\. Green architecture
OtaskiES and our partners offer:
1\. Architectural and energy design
2\. AI energy data management
3\. Infrastructure build
When implemented successfully it will lead to inclusive, efficient and sustainable food systems which further result in a cleaner environment and improved income for local people.
Accelerating the transition towards decarbonization is essential to tackle global warming; and electric vehicles (EVs) have an enormous influence on decarbonization in the electricity and transport sectors, respectively. However, high penetration of these low-carbon technologies will challenge power grids because of the increase in electricity demand posed by uptake in EVs. Many technologies contribute to grid flexibility such as electrical energy storage (EES) and demand-response tools and EVs could effectively be utilized as an energy storage device to benefit the power grid in terms of grid flexibility and reliability.
Otaski Energy Solutions has developed the INtuitIV Digital Lamppost (IDL) which is a smart lamppost capable of hosting streetlights, EV chargers, 5G pico-cell radios and sensors. Almost 60% of households in the UK do not have off-street parking (TransportXtra,2020) and retrofitting street lampposts with V2G/X charging technology has been shown to be viable for rapid deployment of EV chargers. However, existing technologies for lamppost V2G/X charging technologies fall short in terms of complexity, sub-optimal energy management and inflexible operations. In any charging system, the auxiliary service of V2G/X such as flexibility enhancement may result in battery degradation and Grid imbalance. Battery degradation is caused by several factors (such as temperature, State-of-Charge (SOC), Depth-of-Discharge (DOD), charging rate, voltage exposure, current profile) and Grid imbalance caused by rapid electronic power conversions and unregulated charging patterns.
To address the above-mentioned problems, this proposal develops a V2X bi-directional charging prototype hardware including an intelligent observer for a high-gain bidirectional charging system. In addition, the proposed system introduces next-generation off-board bi-directional charging using DC Charge de move (CHAdeMO), which is compatible with a wide range of EVs and provides technical solutions to optimize EV battery performance. Ultimately, the bidirectional MIMO DC-DC converter will manage the energy flow. Thus, the proposed system offers many competitive advantages:
1. our solution will be equipped with an intelligent board for optimal power allocation according to demand;
2. use of MIMO topology will drastically reduce electronic wastes arising from junked PCB, wires, and their consequent hazards to soil and water.
This project aims to design and develop the bi-directional MIMO DC/DC Converter, expand the existing V2G/X business models and use cases, as well as develop a demonstration plan to advance the adaption of the converter and advance the IDL capabilities and improve its real-world applications.
Green Globe Architecture (GGA) is an integrated design-led sustainable architectural and engineering practice that has developed a desk-based architectural model and operational concept of the Energy Facilitated Market Place (EFMP). The EFMP concept utilises Renewable Energy technologies to provide temperature/sensor controlled market places to alleviate high levels of Post-Harvest Losses in Sub-Saharan Africa. As such delivering a socio-economic outlook aimed to provide viable solutions towards creating rural economic empowerment. Our work is unique in that we have linked sociological and health/wellbeing research to provide designs that have social and economic impact anchored by sustainable infrastructures.
As a case in point; women, particularly in agriculture in developing countries face a complex interplay of intensifying climate impacts and gender inequities. Our vision is to provide sustainable infrastructure, services, and social protection for gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls through programmes and infrastructure that we realise requires special attention from development partners, investors and calls such as the Energy Catalyst Round 7.
Otaski Energy Solutions (OtaskiES) is an AI-based energy solutions company that integrates consumers' behavioural patterns and energy utilisations to implement new energy consumption profiles to reduce carbon footprint and energy cost.
GGA and OtaskIES have partnered to deliver the first of its kind EFMP that redesign infrastructure and energy profile targeted at sustainable, affordable and reliable energy access. The collaborations look to solve the energy trilemma and sustainability issues that relate to wealth distribution, gender and socio-economic well-being in Nigeria, Malawi, Mozambique and Kenya. This is done by disruptively building a market place in rural/urban Africa that serves as a clean energy generation farm for the market and adjourning communities, and use artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver affordable and reliable electricity.