IMPHORAA: Implementation of photovoltaics through innovative mini-grid expansion model
The IMPHORAA project seeks to amplify the use of renewable nano-grids in the Philippines and Madagascar, in order to support income growth and the development of sustainable communities in both countries, thereby contributing to 2030 UN Sustainable Agenda Goals.
The objectives of IMPHORAA include service extension of a low‐cost, nano-grid technology and business model, development of a micro-entrepreneurship model for rural community members, assessment of financing schemes and female-supporting best practice for direct implementation of the project solution, demonstration of the IMPHORAA model’s feasibility to interested investors, collection and analysis of life cycle, cost, environmental and social data to establish critical assessment for long-term use of the solution, and calculation of the real impact after full implementation. In addition, the project aims to define an expansion strategy for large scale implementation of the technologies employed.
IMPHORAA is expected to deliver a number of benefits. Rural communities will be equipped with the tools and knowledge for easy-to-install and maintain, electricity, cooling and water pumping supply, covering community needs and creating quality jobs. A pre-payment model will also be delivered to secure payments and payback for investors. Boosting local nano-grids with cooling and water pumping will directly enable micro-entrepreneurs, and provide food security and speedy recovery after catastrophic events such as floods, typhoons, tsunamis and earthquakes, which occur frequently in the areas of focus. The business model for IMPHORAA will help unlock finance and wider deployment at scale in the under-served market segment of the Philippines, with Madagascar also benefitting from the innovation as a secondary market.
Brunel Composite Centre (BCC)’s responsibilities on the project are setting up the IMPHORRA specifications, creating nano-grid simulations, and demonstrating the technologies utilised in the project in Madagascar and the Philippines.
Visit the IMPHORAA website to find out more about the project.
Project Partners: Technovative Solutions Ltd, NANOE, Quauntum Leap JMB Mktg. Inc. and BCC
The IMPHORAA project is supported by Energy Catalyst and UK aid, and was awarded as a “subsidy” under the UK International Obligations for Subsidy Control and delivered under Grant 90935 from Innovate UK.