This project, funded by the UK government through the Energy Catalyst 7 initiative, aims to introduce mini-grid technology into Lesotho, and demonstrate that they can be a superior sustainable solution for rural energy access. Project partners the NUL Energy Research Centre, STI4D, Gram Oorja & MOSCET will adapt the successful mini-grid model that project partner Gram Oorja has applied in over 50 remote rural communities in India to create an innovative technology and business model for Lesotho. The gender-analysed model combines a mini-grid with a set of tailored productivity-enhancing technologies and services (water pumping, grain milling, entrepreneurship, etc.). Adapting this to Lesotho's requirements will see us engaging with local communities to design and test tailored technology and business models that deliver energy access whilst increasing rural productivity and economic growth in those communities. Two alternative versions of the innovative model will be tested by installing and monitoring the performance of two mini-grids -- one for compact rural communities, and if possible one for more widely dispersed ones.

Project outputs will be a rigorous assessment of needs and priorities from mini-grid technology in Lesotho, a set of two complementary technology models adapted to Lesotho's gendered energy needs and conditions, a set of business models similarly adapted to Lesotho national needs and behaviour, a validation of that technology and business model as a commercially sustainable and high impact solution for rural electrification, and an innovative finance model for scaling up the mini-grid models for widespread adoption in Lesotho.

UKRI has put in place the following process to allow researchers to repurpose existing UKRI GCRF grants to address COVID-19 research priorities....