Nevadic Limited, a Nigerian company, has joined ZE-Gen’s international initiative to bring to life cutting-edge renewable energy innovations, designed to leapfrog reliance on highly polluting fossil fuel generators and deliver economic, health, and environmental benefits.
Nevadic has received grant funding to develop one of six new ZE-Gen ‘Demonstrator’ projects which are expected to create both local and international economic opportunities and enable a better quality of life for people and businesses in locations where access to reliable energy is limited or non-existent.
ZEBRAS in Nigeria is one of six new ZE-Gen Demonstrator projects that are being brought to life through new collaborations across Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and the UK, as part of ZE-Gen’s groundbreaking international initiative after securing part of £4.84m funding via Innovate UK, on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Funded through the UK Government’s Ayrton Fund, ZEBRAS project will revolutionalise energy access in Nigeria, particularly for vulnerable domestic and cottage-industry end-users with limited or no access to the electric grid both from a physical and an economic perspective. It will also assure cost-effective supply of clean renewable energy to the end-users. To date, ZE-Gen has catalysed £39.75m as part of its efforts to create jobs, power businesses, and tackle climate change by ending the use of fossil fuel generators. With support from the IKEA Foundation and the UK Government’s Ayrton Fund, ZE-Gen has brought to life more than 35 localised renewable energy projects across Cote d’Ivoire, Fiji, Malawi, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa, and Uganda.
Dr. James Coombes O’Brien from ZE-Gen expressed enthusiasm for the project, highlighting its potential to demonstrate cutting-edge technology in real-world applications. Nevadic CEO Dave Nwosu echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the significance of the funding and the collaborative nature of the initiative.
ZEBRAS is a bold R&D initiative that combines Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) with the innovative repurposing of fossil fuel generators. It’s not just about delivering clean energy to last-mile users through a sustainable, battery-powered virtual pipeline — it’s also about driving a circular economy by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and cutting down on electrical waste from second-hand and end-of-life generators.
What makes this project truly special is the diverse expertise behind it. Nevadic is proud to collaborate with MEP Technologies, PowerUp, The Washing Machine Project (TWMP), and SKRUM as we take on this groundbreaking journey of disruptive innovation.” ZEBRAS is funded by Innovate UK via a Contract for Innovation (formerly SBRI), on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), as part of the UK Government’s £1 billion Ayrton Fund. The ZE-Gen Demonstrator programme is a key part of the broader ZE-Gen Initiative, co-led by Innovate UK and the Carbon Trust.”
Lily Beadle from the Carbon Trust underscored the importance of translating renewable energy concepts into practical solutions that meet community needs, reinforcing the collaborative spirit at the heart of the ZE-Gen initiative.
Globally, around 1.5 billion people don’t have access to reliable electricity. It is estimated that 25 million, highly polluting, fossil fuel generators are in use across emerging economies, resulting in huge financial, social and environmental costs. Associated health risks include premature death, lung cancer, hearing impairment and numerous other problems. High carbon emissions can also hold back countries’ efforts to meet their climate goals, and the high running costs of fossil fuel generators can reduce finance available for business, healthcare and education.
Despite being home to two-thirds of the world’s population, emerging economies only account for 15% of global clean energy investment – with homes and businesses facing frequent blackouts that can last for weeks at a time, negatively impacting daily lives and business income. ZE-Gen’s unique approach tackles market barriers to renewable energy-based alternatives to fossil fuel generators by uniting innovation, finance and skills to drive competitive market growth. The successful implementation of these Demonstrator projects will help develop new international markets, opening economic opportunities over the coming years.
