African SCENe (Sustainable Community Energy Networks) is a 12-month feasibility study that will identify schools within low-income suburban communities in Nairobi that could become clean energy hubs. These hubs will generate, store, and distribute clean, renewable energy for the communities in which they serve, accelerating access to adequate, affordable, and reliable light in the evenings and energy for cooking, while simultaneously enhancing awareness and education of those living in the area.
Funded by Innovate UK’s Energy Catalyst Round 9, the study is being delivered by a project team made up of experts from the University of Nottingham, SmartKlub, Edu-Cater Global and The Community Revolution (via FWD.London), with the support of Nairobi-based Map Kibera.
The project scope
Whilst the initial scope of the project is the urban community of the Kibera (Nairobi, Kenya), the ambition is for the project to be scaled up and rolled out across other communities in Kenya and the wider region of East Africa. The ultimate aim of the project is to have community energy hubs across the rest of Africa and beyond.
Project beneficiaries
The main beneficiaries of the this project are:
- school pupils and their families
- school leaders
- local government
- wider community
Project partners
- SmartKlub – UK based community energy company
- The University of Nottingham – UK based academic institution
- Edu-Cater Global – social enterprise promoting STEM education
- MapKibera – community mapping organisation based in Kenya
- The Community Revolution (via FWD.london) – social enterprise focused on sustainable development in Africa
Key stakeholders
We see the following stakeholders as being key to the success of our project:
- solar PV system installers and equipment suppliers
- government and policy advisors
- investors
- education providers
- advocates for nutritious food and healthy diets
If you are a relevant stakeholder/potential partner then please get in touch.
The role of The Community Revolution
The Community Revolution is responsible for the following aspects of the project:
- Engaging with stakeholders and establishing supply-chains (solar PV installation and maintenance contractors and suppliers)
- Exploring the replicability and scalability of the project across other regions of Kenya and East Africa
- Developing the business/revenue models and business plan
- Developing the community offer; especially around the access to digital services and skills training programmes
How to find out more
If you would like to find out more about the project, and potentially take part, please get in touch via our contact form.
Additional information
- University of Nottingham – Press release announcing our community energy project in Kenya.