International Initiative Aims to Transform Solar Energy in Africa
Swansea University has spearheaded a new international partnership aimed at developing next-generation all-perovskite tandem solar cells that are not only cost-effective but also tailored for the unique climate conditions of Africa. This initiative seeks to enhance long-term energy access and stimulate local manufacturing opportunities throughout East Africa.
Collaboration Across Continents
The SOLACE (Solar Alliance on Clean Energy) project unites researchers from the UK, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania to collaboratively advance solar power technologies. By leveraging shared expertise, training opportunities, and research capabilities, the project aims to address energy challenges faced by many African nations.
Addressing Energy Barriers to Development
Reliable and affordable clean energy is essential for economic growth, healthcare delivery, and educational advancement in several African nations. In countries like Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, improving energy access is crucial for accommodating population growth and enhancing resilience against climate change.
Innovative Solutions with All-Perovskite Cells
While solar power remains a viable solution for expanding energy access, the prevailing silicon solar technology is costly and requires significant energy for manufacturing. Currently, this technology has yet to be scaled up in Africa. All-perovskite tandem solar cells offer a promising alternative, as they can be produced using low-temperature, solution-based methods that dramatically lower manufacturing costs and energy consumption.
Enhancing Efficiency and Production Scalability
The SOLACE team aims to utilize two perovskite absorbers in a tandem architecture to increase efficiency while ensuring compatibility with cost-effective production methods. Developing these technologies in partnership with African laboratories will pave the way for local manufacturing, which is expected to create jobs, strengthen supply chains, and foster sustainable value chains across the continent.
Fostering Research and Gender Equality
This project will deepen knowledge in charge transport, recombination, and device stability, while also developing robust manufacturing techniques suited to the real-world conditions typical of equatorial climates. Through training schools and researcher exchanges beyond the partner institutions, the project seeks to bolster skills in the physics, manufacturing, and characterization of solar cell devices, promoting inclusivity and gender equality in the field of renewable energy.
Leadership and Funding
Project leader Professor Matthew Davies from Swansea University’s Department of Chemical Engineering emphasized that SOLACE unites complementary expertise from Africa and the UK to enrich understanding of next-generation perovskite solar devices while building long-term research capacity. This initiative combines advanced characterization, modeling, and manufacturing approaches to yield efficient and stable solar technologies suited for deployment in African climates.
Dr. Francis Otieno, co-leader of the project at Maseno University, noted the strong collaborative framework established by SOLACE that not only advances research partnerships between the UK and Africa, but also aims to develop a new generation of skilled researchers. This initiative represents a unique opportunity for Maseno University to engage in cutting-edge innovation while co-creating solutions that can be manufactured locally, ensuring sustainable energy access for years to come.
The SOLACE initiative is funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) International Science Partnership Fund (ISPF). It builds on a collaboration established through Tea@Sunrise and complements existing UK-Africa initiatives, such as the REACH-PSM project, which focuses on developing local perovskite module manufacturing across Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, and South Africa.
