Power-Blox – Nano-grid Approach for Disaster Resilience & Productive Use (Vanuatu)

This case study describes a nano-grid project on Lelepa Island, Vanuatu, implemented by Power-Blox and funded by the UNDP. The project utilizes a modular, self-regulating 'internet of energy' technology to provide disaster-resilient electricity to households and critical infrastructure, utilizing a prepaid business model operated primarily by women.

• Power-Blox utilizes a 'swarm intelligence' technology that enables automated, decentralized power regulation and storage by combining various energy sources and battery systems without requiring centralized control or configuration.
• The pilot project on Lelepa Island electrified approximately 500 people across 140 households, as well as a school, a shop, two churches, and a health care facility. Future phases aim to expand this to 17,785 households and 90,000 people, including 44,237 women.
• The project employs a prepaid electricity model where local sales agents activate one of four available packages on customers' smart meters. Women serve as the primary operators for electricity trading and energy infrastructure within this business model.
• Full rollout across 60 islands is expected to reduce CO2e emissions by approximately 25,000 metric tonnes annually and generate 250 indirect jobs in sectors such as tourism, poultry farming, fruit processing, and fishing, resulting in USD 2.68 million in annual income.
• To attract international investors and protect investments in such projects, the document recommends using tiered, blended finance models, first loss guarantees for risk minimization, and concession-like contracts that regulate integration into national power grids.

APA

Alliance for Renewable Electrification (2023). Power-Blox – Nano-grid Approach for Disaster Resilience & Productive Use (Vanuatu). https://renewelec.org/case-study/power-blox-nano-grid-approach-disaster-resilience-productive-use-vanuatu/

Chicago

Alliance for Renewable Electrification. Power-Blox – Nano-grid Approach for Disaster Resilience & Productive Use (Vanuatu). 2023. https://renewelec.org/case-study/power-blox-nano-grid-approach-disaster-resilience-productive-use-vanuatu/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Alliance for Renewable Electrification |title=Power-Blox – Nano-grid Approach for Disaster Resilience & Productive Use (Vanuatu) |date=19 January 2023 |url=https://renewelec.org/case-study/power-blox-nano-grid-approach-disaster-resilience-productive-use-vanuatu/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{allianceforrenewableelectrification2023powerblox, author = {{Alliance for Renewable Electrification}}, title = {{Power-Blox – Nano-grid Approach for Disaster Resilience \& Productive Use (Vanuatu)}}, institution = {Alliance for Renewable Electrification}, year = {2023}, month = jan, url = {https://renewelec.org/case-study/power-blox-nano-grid-approach-disaster-resilience-productive-use-vanuatu/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }