UKZN next gen solar manufacturing project promotes sustainable energy

A group of scientists from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) are joint collaborators on an R70 million Swansea University-led research project to develop and manufacture sustainable perovskite solar modules (PSMs) in Africa, empowering local communities and promoting sustainable energy.

Currently, more than 500 million people in Africa lack access to electricity. REACH-PSM (Resilient Renewable Energy Access Through Community-Driven Holistic Development in Perovskite Solar Module Manufacturing) aims to establish the continent’s first full-scale demonstration of next-generation solar manufacturing, improving social welfare and promoting new, clean economic growth. Funded by the UKRI Ayrton Challenge Programme, REACH-PSM collaborates with universities, businesses, and local communities in Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, and South Africa.

Swansea University in the United Kingdom initiated and led this funding through Professor Matthew Davies, Principal Investigator for REACH-PSM, UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Technologies and Honorary Professor in the School of Chemistry and Physics at UKZN. Joint collaborators include Professor Vincent Nyamori, Professor Bice Martincigh, and Professor Thea van der Westhuizen from UKZN.

The consortium recently held a TEA@SUNRISE Symposium at the Salt Rock Hotel in Ballito under the theme Exploring the International Opportunities for Addressing Energy Access by Bringing Next Generation Solar Technologies to Market. 

The symposium was attended by delegates from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Germany, Spain, India, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania. 

UKZN Professor Vincent Nyamori, a co-investigator on the project, delivered a welcome address emphasising the need for meaningful and impactive collaborations within Africa and in conjunction with developed nations to provide affordable, sustainable solar energy solutions, which are much needed in Africa.

Professor Davies said, “A key element of the project will be developing effective end-of-life treatment to minimise waste and maximise the circular flow of materials through reuse, refurbishment, and recycling of solar modules.”

Professor Thea Van der Westhuizen’s work centres on leadership building for entrepreneurial ecosystems and fostering community engagement to create a substantial impact within and beyond the partnering universities.  Her efforts emphasise the importance of integrating youth entrepreneurship into the innovation process.  As one of the speakers at the event, she highlighted that a robust, community-engaged ecosystem relies on diverse role players, each contributing distinct expertise and an innovative mindset. 

Professor Martincigh highlighted that Africa is abundantly blessed with solar radiation, which needs to be enhanced.  In this project, materials that will be used with the emerging perovskite technology will have a lower cost when it comes to manufacturing solar cells, and it will also use less energy.  There will also be the incorporation of shaped carbon nanomaterials, which will be produced sustainably from renewable lignocellulosic biomass. Africa has plenty of diverse amounts and is incorporated with perovskite in solar cell fabrication.