Balance solar mini-grid loads at rural clinics

Overview

Keep vaccine fridges and maternity lights running at rural clinics by managing solar loads smarter.

Posted by

Health NGO · Matabeleland South

Location

Matabeleland South (12 clinic sites)

Sub-theme

Green Energy & Sustainability

Team size

2–6 people

Pilot budget

US$15,000

Applications close

6 Nov 2026

• Embedded systems
• Energy
• Dashboards

The problem

Background

The NGO supports 12 rural clinics in Matabeleland South that run on solar mini-grids with battery storage. The systems power vaccine refrigerators, lighting, and the staff houses next door.

What's going wrong

In cloudy spells and at night the batteries run flat, and the vaccine fridges lose power along with everything else. Staff get no warning and have no easy way to put critical loads first.

What we need

A strong solution will:

• Protect critical loads (vaccine fridge, maternity lighting) automatically when battery levels fall.
• Warn clinic staff and the NGO before power runs out.
• Log energy use so the NGO can size future systems properly.
• Be repairable by local technicians.

Constraints

• Must not void inverter or battery warranties.
• Network coverage is weak at most sites; SMS is the most reliable channel.
• Parts must be available in Zimbabwe or easy to import.

Deliverables

By forum week, matched teams are expected to bring:

1. A working controller or monitoring prototype.
2. Bench test results and a plan for a one-clinic pilot.
3. Cost per clinic for rolling out to all 12 sites.
4. A seven-minute pitch for forum week.

How teams are evaluated

Applications and final pitches are scored by the challenge owner and the ZBIF secretariat on:

• Fit to the problem30%

  Does it solve the problem as the challenge owner describes it?

• Technical feasibility25%

  Can the team build and run it with the resources available?

• Cost and scalability20%

  Is it affordable to pilot, and to roll out if the pilot works?

• Team capability15%

  Does the team have the skills and time to deliver?

• Local impact10%

  Jobs, skills or value it keeps in Zimbabwe.

Who can apply

• A registered ZBIF innovator account: innovators, consultancies, technologists, university teams or freelancers.
• At least one team member based in Zimbabwe.
• Able to attend forum week in Bulawayo on 27–28 April 2027 if shortlisted.
• IP ownership and pilot terms are agreed between your team and the challenge owner in the Deal Room.

Timeline

1. 15 Sep 2026 Challenge posted We are here
2. 6 Nov 2026 Applications close
3. Within 3 weeks Matching results sent to teams and the challenge owner
4. Until mid-April 2027 Build phase, with mentor and challenge-owner check-ins
5. 27–28 Apr 2027 Live pitch and Deal Rooms at forum week, Bulawayo

Data and resources

Shared with matched teams after signing a simple data-use agreement.

• System diagrams and battery specs per clinic PDF drawings
• Six months of inverter logs from two sites CSV export
• Field technician as point of contact Weekly check-in