An Africa that locally produces solar panels with innovative and sustainable technologies. This is the mission of the project REACH-PSM (Resilient Renewable Energy Access Through Community-Driven Holistic Development in Perovskite Solar Module Manufacturing), which received funding of £3 million ($3.7 million). The objective is to develop the production of perovskite solar modules in South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda and Nigeria, promoting a sustainable and community-friendly development model.
The project, led bySwansea University in the UK, aims to make solar energy more accessible, using innovative technology that reduces costs and environmental impact compared to traditional panels. The focus, however, is not only on technology, but also on local communities, often excluded from technological progress and with limited access to electricity.
REACH-PSM brings together a group of African universities and companies, forming a consortium that combines academic excellence and local expertise. Among the partners, institutions such as theStrathmore University and theEgerton University in Kenya, theFederal University of Technology Owerri in Nigeria, and three South African universities: Cape Town, North West And KwaZulu-Natal.
The consortium also includes renewable energy companies such as Kenya Kijani Testingthe Rwandan SLS Energy and the Nigerian Hinkley Recycling. These business partners will work closely with universities to develop innovative business models and create a demonstration plant that can serve as a model for the local production of next-generation solar panels.
The project has a significant impact on a continent where over 600 million people they still don’t have access to electricity. With solar energy, the aim is not only to reduce energy poverty, but also to create new economic opportunities for local communities.
Perovskite and circular economy: innovation that looks to the future
The technological heart of this project is represented by perovskite solar panels, an emerging technology that promises to revolutionize the sector. Compared to traditional silicon panels, perovskite panels are less expensive to producerequire less energy during the manufacturing process and can be adapted for a more sustainable production.
Matthew Daviesproject manager and UNESCO Chair of Sustainable Technologies, underlined the importance of a sustainability-oriented approachcircular economy:
One of the main objectives will be to develop efficient end-of-life treatments for the panels, minimizing waste and maximizing the reuse of materials through recycling and regeneration.
This approach is not limited to environmental sustainability, but also aims to create a production system that can make Africa a player in the global solar energy market. The ability to produce locally solar modules represents a step towards technological independence and the strengthening of local supply chains.
Davies added that the project does not just bring technological innovation, but also intends strengthen the skills of local communitieshelping to create job opportunities and strengthening the economic resilience of the territories involved.
REACH-PSM links to previous REACH initiativesSwansea Universitylike the program TEA@SUNRISEwhich promotes the production of photovoltaic modules in low-income countries in Africa, Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. Both projects are part of the Ayrton Challenge program of the British government, created to support the global energy transition.
In a context where renewable technologies are often inaccessible due to high costs, perovskite represents a concrete possibility to democratize solar energy. This project, with its combination of sustainability, innovation and circular economy, demonstrates that Africa is not only a land of natural resources, but also fertile ground for technological and social development.
