Group 1 - Centuri Holdings Inc. has announced customer awards totaling over $300 million, building on a previous $550 million in awards, indicating strong demand for its energy solutions [1][2] - The recent awards reflect a strategic focus on capturing end-market opportunities and delivering profitable growth, as stated by the company's President and CEO [2] - The awarded contracts include work to support data centers in Pennsylvania, a renewal with a utility customer in the Northeast, and new contracts for gas and electric utilities in the Midwest and Southeast [3] Group 2 - Centuri Holdings Inc. operates as a utility infrastructure services firm, providing essential services for building and maintaining energy networks in the U.S. and Canada [4]

Problem & Solution - Approximately 1 billion people globally lack access to electricity, primarily in Africa and South/Southeast Asia [1] - Mesh grids, a decentralized network with panels and batteries on individual houses, offer a solution by interconnecting houses and redistributing power [6][7] - Mesh grids can be 50% cheaper than mini-grids due to shorter power distances and smaller cables [8] Innovation & Deployment - Nigeria is a progressive and innovative leader in large-scale solutions to energy poverty [2] - Mesh grids are fast to deploy, with local labor trained for installation and maintenance [9] - Prototypes were tested in communities, demonstrating the technology's potential to fill the energy access gap [10] Policy & Finance - Nigeria's regulators are actively learning about and supporting new energy solutions like mesh grids [13] - Financeers like Infrorit are backing mesh grid innovations, alongside partnerships to provide appropriate appliances [15] - DARES, a nearly $1 billion electrification program, aims to provide electricity to almost 20 million Nigerians, including mesh grids [16] Impact & Future - Currently, 40,000 people have gained electricity access through mesh grids [17] - 500,000 people are projected to gain access to electricity from mesh grids in the next few years [18] - The industry believes that 700 million people can gain electricity access with innovation and a willingness to adopt new approaches [19]