MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name:

Increasing energy access with RENERLITE

One-line solution summary:

Renerlite is a compact energy solution that was developed by the Renerworld team to increase energy access and improve standard of living

Pitch your solution.

Problem: Lack of access to clean and reliable electricity supply.

We developed a compact, affordable renewable energy solution that's easy to deploy and can be used to power basic appliances in a home. It is portable which makes it easy to move from one location to another and It depends solely on the sun with solar panel for power generation keeping it's operational expenses very low.

We had the opportunity to travel to an offgrid community in Nigeria where we deployed a solar mini-grid system to power about three homes The beneficiaries were able to power their gadgets, TV and lighting. In a community where there was absolutely no access to electricity grid, the beneficiaries enjoyed 24hrs access to the electricity from a solar energy source. Neighbors also visited to charge their mobile devices. They used to spend N30 everyday to charge each gadget but paid only N50 everyday to power their entire home including lighting. The impact of the small prototype mini-grid we deployed was high.

What specific problem are you solving?

Total energy demand in Nigeria is about 30GW but Nigeria currently generates an average of 4GW from all her power plants combined which is very low. The transmission and distribution grids are very unstable due to aging and they need to be revamped. There's also need to extend the grid network to many offgrid locations in Nigeria.

The lack of electricity supply has led to very huge digital divide with many students, not just in offgrid communities but also in urban communities in Nigeria, unable to have reliable access to internet access and online platforms that could help improve their knowledge on subject areas and enable them make a difference in the society. It has also led to people improvising by using kerosene lanterns and other means that are harmful to the health and very expensive to maintain hence impacting their standards of living negatively.

According to AWKA, an international organization, Power for All, about 93 million people Lack electricity supply in Nigeria, according to Quartz Africa (qz.com), 600 million people Lack electricity supply across Africa and according to ourworldindata.org, about 940m people Lack electricity supply all over the world.

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

Our solution has the capacity to solve so many problems related to social security.

1. It'll enable anyone irrespective of their location to be able to have reliable access to electricity supply to power their basic appliances and gadgets.

2. It'll help bridge digital divide by making it possible for homes power up their gadgets aiding access to information through radio and internet access.

3. The product eliminates the need for most people to depend on health degrading and harmful sources of power eg use of candles, kerosene lamps or gasoline generators.

4. It reduces expenses incurred on energy since it fully depends on the sun for energy and has energy storage system for period of the day when there's no sunshine.

5. It improves the overall standard of living of many homes as children are able to have access to light to aid the education and learning and parents are able to use electricity to aid their businesses.

6. It'll also help SMEs to grow faster by increasing their profit margin through reduction in their business operating expenses and increased productivity.

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Deploying features that encourage contributions regardless of literacy and numeracy levels — including in contexts with limited internet coverage

Explain how the problem, your solution, and your solution’s target population relate to the Mission Billion Challenge WURI West Africa Prize and your selected dimension.

In addition to this, you need to know more about it.

Where is your solution team headquartered?

Lagos, Nigeria

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Growth: An individual or organization with an established product, service or model rolled out, which is poised for further growth in multiple locations.

Who is the primary delegate for your solution?

Omolaja Emmanuel Itura