A consortium of Oxford Saïd Business School alumni has secured £700,000 in funding from UKRI to deliver affordable clean energy in off-grid Nigerian communities. The team, led by Ishaq Bolarinwa, will deploy hybrid wind and solar systems integrated with cold storage technology, targeting Nigeria's severe energy access issue that leaves 85 million without electricity. This initiative aims to reduce the reliance on expensive diesel generators and mitigate environmental impact. With this funding, the team is set for extensive research and testing to implement this sustainable energy solution across Nigeria's rural areas.
"This project hits that sweet spot of being good for the economy, reducing energy costs for communities, and helping the planet," said Bolarinwa.
"Limited access to power is holding Nigeria back. What we're building has the potential to unlock real change."
Nigeria currently has the world's largest energy access deficit, with 85 million people-43% of the population-lacking grid electricity.
The clean energy microgrids will use wind turbines, solar panels, and thermal storage technology, supporting off-grid cold chain systems essential for food and medical supplies.
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