Unlocking the power of solar energy in African communities
Dr Sheridan Few is part of a consortium with partners in Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda, which will boost community access to solar energy in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Africa is the most sun-rich continent in the world, but it still relies on fossil fuels for most of its electricity production, which has implications for its carbon footprint.
Ensuring everyone has access to a reliable and sustainable electricity supply is essential for global development and will significantly improve millions' health, education, and water access.
The new £3.6million ‘Moving IMPACT: Integrated Means to Power Agriculture, Clean Cooking and Transportation’ project explores how solar mini-grids integrated with electric vehicle (EV) charging can meet agricultural and community energy needs in Sub-Saharan Africa, advancing sustainable energy access and local development.
This will help to deliver low-carbon pathways and health benefits
Dr Few will lead its work package on e-mobility, supporting the decarbonisation of transport in the region. He says:
"Whilst previous projects have largely focused on basic levels of energy access in remote locations, this project will support a transition to e-mobility including more urban contexts. This will help to deliver low-carbon pathways and health benefits through improved air quality.
“We will begin by focusing on high-utilisation vehicles like taxis and e-trikes. Working closely with in-country partners, our part in this project will clarify electric vehicle charging infrastructure needs and understand the broader business model and institutional needs. Working with a health centre in rural Ghana, we will also explore ways in which co-locating charging infrastructure can support both health and mobility outcomes."
Academic, industry and policy collaboration
Imperial will lead the Moving IMPACT project. It’s a collaboration with more than 13 partners, including the University of Leeds, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), the University of Energy and Natural Resources of Ghana, the University of Rwanda, the Kigali Centre for Collaborative Research in Rwanda and the University of Strathmore in Kenya.
The project is funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Ayrton Challenge Programme which aims to enable a transformative transition to low-carbon energy systems in developing countries.
It promotes equitable partnerships between UK and in-country researchers to ensure projects are locally relevant and impactful.
Dr Richard Oduro, Research Fellow in the School of Earth and Environment has helped to develop the project proposal. He said:
“This project will use local knowledge and international experience to produce evidence for electric mobility and its sustainable business models in urban and rural settings.
“We will collaborate with partners in health, energy, transport, local government, NGOs, and academia to co-produce evidence for policy and decision-making.
“We hope the project outcomes and impact can make mobility and energy use fairer.”
The power of research and innovation to address critical global challenges.
Dr Adrià Junyent-Ferré, Reader in Power Electronics at Imperial, said “We know that solar-powered community-scale mini-grids can address this energy gap, but they are costly and carry development risks.
“Our project aims to explore diverse ways for these mini-grids to generate revenue, for example in electric mobility, agriculture, and community services. We believe this could incentivize the development of mini-grids in communities across Africa that are large enough to support socially impactful uses.
“This ambition can only be achieved by bringing together a broad spectrum of skills and experience to investigate the issue from every angle, propose a sustainable and cost-effective solution, and implement it in practice. I’m delighted we could bring together such an international and cross-sector team.”
Frances Wood, UKRI International Director, said: “The Ayrton Challenge Programme demonstrates the power of research and innovation to address critical global challenges. These projects exemplify how equitable, interdisciplinary collaboration can unlock transformative solutions, ensuring a sustainable and inclusive energy future for all.”
