OxReGen Wind Turbine Mini-grid Pilot

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Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK

£1,161,410

March 31, 2023

March 31, 2024

In Somalia, only 15% of the population has access to electricity (Somalia National Development Plan). 90% of this electricity is supplied through isolated, diesel-based mini-grids (World Bank), which are costly and unsustainable. Furthermore, reliance on diesel generators does not support the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal of ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services by 2030\.

Of all the countries in Africa, Somalia has the highest potential for onshore wind power (African Development Bank). Therefore, implementing an affordable and reliable wind energy solution is the obvious choice for increasing energy access in Somalia. This is the aim of the project.

The project team is comprised of members from the University of Oxford, ÉireComposites and Save the Children International. They will develop an innovative wind turbine mini-grid system, that will be both affordable and reliable. The mini-grid system will store energy to power electrical appliances, even in the absence of wind. This system will be constructed using locally sourced, off-the-shelf components, making it simple and easy to install. In addition, there will be minimal maintenance that anyone can be trained to carry out.

The team will identify a test site in Somalia to install a wind turbine mini-grid system. Implementing the technology in a community that does not have access to electricity will be revolutionary. The power generated could be used to: refrigerate vaccines; power internet access; pump groundwater; provide lighting; and/or charge mobile phones. Furthermore, having a reliable source of renewable electricity will increase income-generating activities and remove the need to purchase fuel.

From a broader perspective, in sub-Saharan Africa, only 40% of health centres, half of schools, and 28% of the rural population have access to electricity (World Bank). To continue serving these needs in the future, a social enterprise will be formed to manufacture more wind turbine mini-grid systems. The aim of the social enterprise will be to increase access to renewable, affordable, and reliable energy in sub-Saharan Africa. This project, and the energy produced from these systems, will have the potential to change lives.