10108238Smart Metering Adapted Renewable Technology Enabling Emission Elimination/Energy Reliability (SMART4ER)ClosedFeasibility StudiesInnovate UKWhere grid supply is unreliable/unavailable, in Nigeria (and the wider Sub Saharan Africa 'SSA'), businesses or communities have resorted to the fossil-fuelled generators that they are more accustomed to, and the initial upfront cost / complexities of an elaborate clean energy mix are generally avoided. The fossil fuel generators then ends-up operating as the main energy supply rather than backup. Evidence from Wave Insight's initial research conducted suggests the presence of socio-cultural/behavioural barriers and high ignorance of energy consumption consciousness as the core reasons for the high demand/usage of fossil-fuel generators, and it is not feasible to anticipate a sudden switch away to renewable energy technologies (RETs). Consumers also require support and education to facilitate phasing away from fossil-fuel generators to RETs. To facilitate the increased contribution of RETs and eliminate reliance on fossil-fuelled generators, SMART4ER will develop an integrated smart-metered RET/battery system technology that easily integrates and manages the energy flow and supply in a multisource RET/grid energy systems. The technology will be compatible with any energy system such that RETs and grid (where available) can seamlessly balance the generation/consumption scales efficiently/cost-effectively. SMART4ER would be expected lead to on-demand access by managing through capitalising on the available RET/grid energy source strengths. SMART4ER will be able to address load balancing such that a primary energy source at an instant is capable of handling consumption demand. SMART4ER feasibility project is geared to validate the technical/commercial potential of enabling residential/commercial consumers within Nigeria, (and potentially the wider SSA), with energy usage data monitoring/insight accessing capability via a smart meter/digital platform. Successful market uptake of SMART4ER is expected to improve access to RETs (particularly solar) by facilitating innovative business/market models and stronger collaboration between key stakeholders in the energy market. This will be possible because of the level of data that will be made accessible through the SMART4ER platform which has never been seen before in the target regions and the overall energy sector. Once there is hard data to justify/convince the market of the cost-effectiveness of RET solutions and the financial vehicles needed to make them affordable, we expect this to eliminate the use of fossil fuel generators. This is in line with achieving the targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly regarding curbing CO2 emissions which are destroying the global climate, leading to enhanced economic growth through responsible consumption and production of clean energy.