<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><ns2:project xmlns:ns1="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api" xmlns:ns2="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/project" xmlns:ns3="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/fund" xmlns:ns4="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/person" xmlns:ns5="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/project/outcome" xmlns:ns6="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/organisation" ns1:created="2026-06-03T15:52:43Z" ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/projects/D2FE34DB-4E2F-46FE-909D-5737829E5938" ns1:id="D2FE34DB-4E2F-46FE-909D-5737829E5938"><ns1:links><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/persons/4E3AC843-25FC-47DB-978A-D34B6E1FBE76" ns1:rel="PM_PER"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/FA3D6BF3-9B4A-478F-B361-419B3EC83CFE" ns1:rel="LEAD_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/FA3D6BF3-9B4A-478F-B361-419B3EC83CFE" ns1:rel="PARTICIPANT_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:end="2017-11-30T00:00:00Z" ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/funds/FA0B2B2A-D7B9-43B8-806A-EAADC7D1AA54" ns1:rel="FUND" ns1:start="2016-12-01T00:00:00Z"/></ns1:links><ns2:identifiers><ns2:identifier ns2:type="RCUK">132483</ns2:identifier></ns2:identifiers><ns2:title>Assessing the potential for smart, wireless electricity meters in off-grid Sub-Saharan Africa</ns2:title><ns2:status>Closed</ns2:status><ns2:grantCategory>Feasibility Studies</ns2:grantCategory><ns2:leadFunder>Innovate UK</ns2:leadFunder><ns2:abstractText>Small distributed mini grids have long been touted as a green solution to supplying electricity across vast distance &amp;amp; replacing the use of harmful fossil fuel sources to the 620m unconnected in rural Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) , However, the inability to monitor, control &amp;amp; collect payment for electricity in off-grid SSA is cited as one of the biggest barriers to the development of the mini-grid market (Energy Map;2015). We aim to design &amp;amp; assess the technical &amp;amp; operational feasibility of a low cost, ruggedized, LPWAN (Low-power wide area network) wireless smart meter &amp;amp; mobile payment system designed explicitly for rural, off-grid SSA. 

Our proposed system utilises emerging mobile technology to connect thousands of energy consumers to mini grid electricity. Using cloud technology, advanced data analytics, PAYG mobile payments &amp;amp; a range of intelligent power &amp;amp; data algorithms, our system will allow the retail of affordable electricity even in the most challenging, remote locations. This will enable the widespread roll-out of metered electricity to rural communities, significantly reducing the economic, health &amp;amp; environmental damage caused by unsustainable energy sources.</ns2:abstractText></ns2:project>