Imperial College London has spearheaded a £3.6 million ‘Moving IMPACT’ project, in collaboration with 13+ partners from Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and the UK, to focus on enhancing solar energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa. It aims to integrate solar mini-grids with electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to address the energy needs of agriculture, clean cooking, and transportation in the region.
Key objective of the project include; Expanding sustainable energy access and foster local development, develop scalable, community-scale solar mini-grids capable of powering higher-energy applications like electric cooking and agriculture, Identify diverse revenue streams for mini-grids, such as EV mobility and community services, to improve cost-effectiveness and reduce risks.
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The project will last for three years starting in January 2025. It is being funded by the 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. Collaborators include; African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), Universities in Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, and the UK (including Strathmore University and University of Leeds), three Imperial alumni-led green energy startups: BBOXX Ltd, Meshpower, and Evotrack and Lead Researcher Dr. Adrià Junyent-Ferré, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
In November 2024, Imperial became the first UK university to establish a permanent base in Africa, Imperial Global Ghana in Accra. This hub supports collaboration in medical diagnostics, AI, climate science, and sustainable cities and entrepreneurship training and academic partnerships between West Africa and the UK.
Africa’s reliance on fossil fuels for electricity production, despite being the most sun-rich continent, highlights the potential impact of this initiative. Providing affordable, sustainable, and reliable electricity can transform millions of lives by improving health, education, and water access.
