Sleekabyte Technologies Leads ZE-Gen Phase 3 Consortium to Scale Clean Energy Access for Nigerian MSMEs

Sleekabyte Technologies is proud to announce that it is leading one of two consortium projects selected for Phase 3 of the Zero Emission Generators (ZE-Gen) Accelerator programme, in partnership with CitiBIM Nigeria Limited. Sleekabyte and CitiBIM Nigeria Limited will advance MobACE, a mobile clean energy platform designed to provide Nigerian micro, small and medium-sized enterprises with a practical, scalable alternative to petrol and diesel generator dependence.

ZE-Gen is led by the Carbon Trust and Innovate UK with support from the IKEA Foundation and UK aid through the UK Government’s Ayrton Fund, via the Transforming Energy Access platform. The programme is focused on accelerating renewable energy-based alternatives to fossil fuel generators in countries where generator dependence remains a major barrier to economic growth, public health and environmental sustainability [1][2].

The Journey So Far

Sleekabyte’s ZE-Gen journey began in Phase 1, the “Discover” phase, where twenty projects were selected to receive a share of £2 million to explore cleaner and more affordable alternatives to fossil fuel generators in Nigeria and the Philippines [3]. Sleekabyte Technologies, working with CitiBIM Nigeria Limited, was selected for MobACE, a mobile solar generator solution with modular battery capsules for affordable and flexible energy access in Nigeria [4].

Following Phase 1, only five projects progressed to Phase 2, the “Lift-off” phase, receiving a share of £2.4 million in grant funding and commercialisation support. This phase enabled Sleekabyte and CitiBIM to refine the MobACE model, deepen stakeholder engagement in Nigeria and strengthen the commercial assumptions behind the solution [5].

Phase 3 now moves MobACE into a more advanced stage of demonstration and validation. Following a competitive selection process from the five Phase 2 projects, Sleekabyte Technologies was selected as one of only two consortium leads to progress to Phase 3.

Why Nigeria Needs This Now

Nigeria’s energy challenge is a direct commercial constraint for MSMEs. These businesses account for 96.9% of enterprises, 87.9% of employment and 46.32% of GDP in Nigeria, making them central to productivity, job creation and local economic resilience [6]. Since the removal of petrol subsidy in May 2023, generator-powered businesses have faced sharp and unpredictable energy costs. Petrol prices moved from about ₦188 - ₦199 per litre before subsidy removal to between ₦488 and ₦577 per litre shortly after the policy change [7]. By 2024, Reuters reported NNPC pump prices of ₦998 per litre in Lagos and ₦1,030 per litre in Abuja [8].

For MSMEs, this pressure extends beyond generator running costs. Higher fuel prices increase transport, storage, production and input costs, while weaker consumer purchasing power makes it harder to pass those costs on. PwC’s 2024 MSME Survey found that many MSMEs were already reporting falling sales due to high prices and low purchasing power, with unreliable electricity and high energy expenses remaining major constraints [9]. Recent oil-market shocks, including the Iran-related fuel spike, have made generator dependence even riskier, with reports of petrol prices reaching around ₦1,330 per litre in parts of Nigeria [10]. MobACE is being developed for this reality: MSMEs that need reliable power but cannot continue to depend on volatile fuel prices or invest easily in conventional fixed solar systems.

What MobACE Is Designed to Do

MobACE is designed to give MSMEs cleaner, more flexible and more affordable access to electricity, especially in places where conventional fixed solar installations are difficult to finance, host or secure. Many Nigerian MSMEs operate from rented shops, shared markets, roadside locations, kiosks, open-air clusters and temporary business spaces. These businesses may not own suitable rooftops, have permission to install solar panels, afford a full system upfront or safely secure fixed energy assets. Yet they still need reliable electricity to trade, preserve stock, run equipment and serve customers.

MobACE responds to this gap through a first-of-a-kind mobile solar generator, supported by modular battery storage, rentable battery capsules and a digital Energy Management System. Instead of requiring every business to buy and maintain its own solar installation, MobACE brings clean energy closer to where economic activity is taking place. The model enables mobile solar units to support clusters of users, while MSMEs access energy in a way that is better aligned with their daily operations and cash flow. The digital layer supports coordination, service delivery and operational visibility, helping the solution remain practical as it scales.

For MSMEs, MobACE offers a more predictable route to electricity access, reduced exposure to fuel price volatility and lower dependence on petrol and diesel generators. For business clusters and communities, it supports cleaner, quieter and more flexible energy use in environments where generator noise, fumes and fuel costs remain everyday barriers to productivity.

What We Will Be Doing in Phase 3

In Phase 3, Sleekabyte Technologies and CitiBIM Nigeria Limited will take MobACE into advanced deployment across Nigerian communities, focusing on MSMEs and essential services most affected by unreliable grid electricity. The project will demonstrate mobile solar power systems for markets, small businesses, schools and clinics. Each system combines solar generation with rentable, swappable battery units, giving users access to clean power that can move with economic activity rather than being fixed to one location.

A major focus will be clustered deployment. Multiple units will be piloted in business and community settings to test how MobACE can safely support shared clean energy access across groups of users. This will help validate the technology, user behaviour, service delivery model, affordability and commercial sustainability in real operating conditions. Sleekabyte will also continue strengthening the digital layer behind MobACE, including metering, monitoring, asset visibility and other smart energy capabilities that support reliable deployment at scale.

Building a Scalable Clean Energy Future for MSMEs

Nigeria’s MSMEs are too important to remain locked into expensive, polluting and unpredictable generator dependence. They power local economies, create jobs, support households and keep communities moving, yet many spend a significant share of income simply staying operational during power outages.

Through ZE-Gen Phase 3, Sleekabyte Technologies and CitiBIM Nigeria Limited are advancing MobACE with a clear focus on practical deployment, commercial readiness and real user needs. The project is designed around how Nigerian MSMEs actually operate, not around assumptions of perfect infrastructure, fixed premises or large upfront capital.

MobACE is not only about reducing energy costs. It also supports cleaner business environments by helping to reduce reliance on noisy and polluting generators, improving air quality in business clusters and supporting lower-carbon productive use. The long-term ambition is to build a scalable clean energy access model for Nigerian MSMEs: one that combines mobile solar generation, digital coordination, flexible energy access and commercially viable deployment.

References

[1] ZE-Gen, “ZE-Gen Technology Accelerator” — https://www.ze-gen.org/ze-gen-technology-accelerator/

[2] ZE-Gen, “About ZE-Gen” — https://www.ze-gen.org/about-ze-gen/

[3] ZE-Gen, “Projects to explore cheaper, cleaner alternatives to fossil fuel generators in Nigeria and the Philippines awarded share of £2 million” — https://www.ze-gen.org/projects-to-explore-cheaper-cleaner-alternatives-to-fossil-fuel-generators-in-nigeria-and-the-philippines-awarded-share-of-2-million/

[4] ZE-Gen, “Sleekabyte Technologies Limited: Mobile Solar Generator with Modular Battery Capsules for Affordable and Flexible Energy Use” — https://www.ze-gen.org/sleekabyte-technologies-limited-2/

[5] ZE-Gen, “UK-Global partnerships bringing renewable energy innovations to international markets” — https://www.ze-gen.org/uk-global-partnerships-bringing-renewable-energy-innovations-to-international-markets/

[6] PwC Nigeria, “PwC’s MSME Survey 2024” — https://www.pwc.com/ng/en/publications/strategies-for-msme-success.html

[7] KPMG Nigeria, “Removing Nigeria’s PMS Fuel Subsidies” — https://kpmg.com/ng/en/home/insights/2023/06/removing-nigeria-pms-fuel-subsidies.html

[8] Reuters, “Nigeria’s NNPC raises fuel prices as it ditches costly subsidies” — https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/nigerias-nnpc-raises-fuel-prices-it-ditches-costly-subsidies-2024-10-10/

[9] PwC Nigeria, “PwC’s 2024 MSME Survey” — https://www.pwc.com/ng/en/press-room/pwc-msme-survey-2024.html

[10] Vanguard, “Israel-Iran conflict: Marketers hike petrol prices as crude oil hits $74pb” — https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/06/israel-iran-conflict-marketers-hike-petrol-prices-as-crude-oil-hits-74pb-2/