Posted on :Thursday , 30th January 2025

A £3 million ($3.7 million) funding has been given to a group of entrepreneurs and researchers to investigate the production of perovskite solar modules in South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, and Nigeria. By encouraging domestic solar manufacturing in low- and middle-income nations, the REACH-PSM (Resilient Renewable Energy Access Through Community-Driven Holistic Development in Perovskite Solar Module Manufacturing) project seeks to advance sustainable energy alternatives.

Swansea University in the UK is spearheading the program, with significant involvement from South African, Nigerian, and Kenyan universities. Renewable energy firms Kijani Testing, SLS Energy, and Hinkley Recycling are all part of the group and will contribute their knowledge to the project.

The promise of perovskite solar technology, a less expensive and more energy-efficient substitute for conventional silicon-based solar cells, is the project's main focus. Perovskite solar technology is a perfect way to combat energy poverty in Africa because it uses less energy during production and is less expensive.

"The project will concentrate on designing the manufacturing process for a circular economy," said Matthew Davies, UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Technologies and Principal Investigator for REACH-PSM. "The development of efficient end-of-life treatment to reduce waste and maximise the circular flow of materials through reuse, refurbishment, and recycling of solar modules will be a key element of the project," Davies added.

In order to cater to the African market, the consortium will also concentrate on creating business plans and setting up a sizable solar cell production plant. The project, which builds on Swansea University's ongoing renewable energy projects, such TEA@SUNRISE, which focusses on solar panel manufacturing across Africa, Asia, and the Indo-Pacific region, is supported by the UK Department for Research and Innovation's Ayrton Challenge program.

The REACH-PSM initiative seeks to advance Africa's shift to clean energy while building local economies and supply chains by offering underserved people sustainable, reasonably priced solar energy options.