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New approach to decentralized production of electricity, water supply and Internet connection, in full autonomy and off-grid

Project description

New cubes generate off-grid power

Worldwide, one in three people do not have access to safe drinking water, according to the United Nations. Access to clean water, along with electricity and the internet, is essential for growth. In this context, the EU-funded CUBE project will facilitate off-grid energy fluids (power, water and connectivity); specifically, it is developing a plug-and-play solar-powered system of cubes (supply points) linked to an Internet of Things (IoT) platform. The cubes combine inverting technologies to produce and store electricity, filtering systems (reverse osmosis and UV lamp) to supply clean water and several connection types linking to the IoT platform, where Big Data are processed.

Objective

The reliable access to clean water, electricity and to the Internet altogether is a prerequisite to social and economic development. There is no perspective of growth without these resources. And yet, this is the case for two billion people today, who live in isolated areas, regions damaged by war or a natural disaster or suffering from poor infrastructure.
Despite a strong commitment, the actions of public organizations and NGOs remain limited: the access to water and electricity off-grid remains complex and very costly. It takes at least a full year for areas in need to get the proper infrastructure.

In this context, the company ZEST, specialized in the production of off-grid energy fluids (power, water, connectivity) has developed a disruptive concept named CUBE.
CUBE refers to an autonomous and plug-and-play solar-powered system, able to create supply points in electricity, clean water and internet in IoT cubes of 585 x 585 x 585 mm.
The cubes combine inverting technologies to produce and store electricity (230V), filtering systems (reverse osmosis and UV lamp) to supply clean water and several connection types (4G/ 3G, edge and satellite connection) to link the cubes to an IoT platform, where big data are processed. Real-time analysis will deliver smart guidance and tailored training for low energy consumption by the users.

With a lifespan of about a decade, the cubes have the potential to make any building, housing or operation site (e.g. construction sites) autonomous . They also can create circular economy wherever in use. It is both a transformative technology and a disruptive societal innovation.

The Phase 1 project will validate:
- the artificial intelligence (AI) components in the cubes
- their low-energy consumption approach (reduction of 40% the energy losses observed today)
- the targeted business model: product-oriented in developed countries and focusing on knowledge transfer and smart training in developing countries.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

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Coordinator

ZEST
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Address
813 AVENUE LEON BLUM
01500 AMBERIEU EN BUGEY
France

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Rhône-Alpes Ain
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 71 429,00
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