Countries

CREDiT’s Kenya demonstration focuses on fishing communities north of Mombasa, where unreliable electricity and limited access to fresh water make it difficult to produce ice and keep landed fish fresh. Solar PV with battery storage will provide more dependable power for ice-making, cold storage and, where suitable water sources are available, water pumping. Ice taken on fishing trips and cooling at landing sites can help reduce spoilage, preserve the value of the catch and open opportunities to reach wider markets, including Mombasa. Keeping fish fresh for longer can also give fishermen greater flexibility over when and to whom they sell, helping retain more income within their communities.

Working with the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) and COMRED, CREDiT will build on the existing governance of Beach Management Units (BMUs), including their elected committees and local representatives. WP1 (co-design) and WP3 (business modelling and energy as a service) will help communities shape the services around their priorities and develop practical arrangements for management, charging, training and maintenance. The aim is to establish viable community-led services with resources for repairs and equipment replacement, so the benefits continue beyond the project’s funding.

A central innovation is the digital twin: a virtual model informed by data from the solar installation. It will help identify emerging problems earlier, support decisions about energy use and allow communities to explore additional services or future expansion before investing. Together, reliable energy, local skills and sustainable business models can support a lasting cold chain with less fish wasted, stronger livelihoods and opportunities to reinvest in the community.

CREDiT’s Malawi demonstration focuses on agricultural communities where limited electricity access, unreliable grid supply and insufficient water for irrigation constrain farming and livelihoods. The project will provide a solar PV installation with digital twin technology, alongside a hammer mill as a priority productive use of the energy. Reliable power can support maize processing, water pumping and other locally agreed activities, helping communities improve agricultural productivity and develop income-generating services. Further opportunities being explored include phone and transport charging, alongside village businesses such as barbers.

LUANAR and the University of York are working with local representatives and committees to support delivery, with the intention that ownership will ultimately pass to the communities. Communities will develop new governance arrangements or build on existing structures to manage the installation, its services and income. WP1 (co-design) and WP3 (business modelling and energy as a service) will help develop these arrangements and assess viable business ideas, including how service income can cover operating costs, maintenance and future investment. Community members have already begun constructing buildings for the solar equipment and hammer mill, supported by LUANAR.

The digital twin a virtual model informed by data from the installation will support monitoring, help communities assess different energy uses and guide decisions about future expansion. Alongside practical training and sustainable service models, it can help turn the initial installation into a lasting community asset. The aim is for communities to build the capability and resources to operate, maintain and expand their services independently, supporting food security, local enterprise and livelihoods beyond CREDiT’s funding.

CREDiT’s Zambia demonstration focuses on Chipembi Agricultural College and its surrounding community, where unreliable grid power can interrupt teaching, practical training, water supply and productive activities. A reliable solar PV installation will support the college’s educational and agricultural role, providing energy for classrooms, computers, workshops, irrigation and food processing. The diagram follows six connected stages Educate, Train, Produce, Serve, Impact and Expand showing how dependable energy can strengthen the college and extend benefits to local livelihoods and community services.

The United Church of Zambia (UCZ), CREDiT’s partner, runs the college and will retain direct oversight of the installation and its operation. This provides a foundation for long-term management, maintenance and integration into college activities. Alongside the technology, CREDiT aims to strengthen practical skills, local ownership and a sustainable operating model, helping the college make effective use of the energy and keep the system working beyond the project’s funding.

A central innovation is the digital twin: a virtual model informed by data from the solar installation. It will support monitoring, help identify emerging problems and allow different energy uses and expansion options to be explored before investment. In the near term, the aim is more dependable power for essential college activities; over time, the opportunity is to develop skills, support productive enterprises and strengthen shared services. The longer-term ambition is a well-maintained installation that enables Chipembi to sustain and expand these benefits, while sharing learning with other institutions and communities.