Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA)

The solutions include decentralised renewables (solar photovoltaics), innovative energy storage systems including the use of second-life electric vehicle batteries, smart microgrids, waste-to-energy systems (biomass to biogas), climate-proofing, resilience and adaptation, and rural internet access. The innovations will initially be developed in one modular demonstration case addressing the three main focus areas of innovation in energy transitions: access, productive use, and circular economy.

An integrated approach has been adopted to test innovations in different partner countries with different socio-economic, political, geographic, and technological contexts. Special emphasis will be put to address the barrier to financial sustainability experienced by previous sustainable energy projects and will develop plans to scale up and roll out innovations with the support of associated financial partners, such as private sector financiers, climate finance institutions, and development banks.

Through several local living labs, it is expected to facilitate the co-development of scalable and replicable energy access innovations to be tested, validated, and later replicated throughout the African continent. These solutions will include decentralized renewables (solar photovoltaics), innovative energy storage systems including the use of second-life electric vehicle batteries, smart micro-grids, waste-to-energy systems (biomass to biogas), climate-proofing, resilience and adaptation, and rural internet access. This project seeks to co-develop, test, validate and replicate low-carbon energy solutions for a range of applications in both urban and rural contexts in Africa. The main objective is to provide innovative energy access technologies and business models that are easily replicable and generate local economic development and social cohesion opportunities.

SESA is the result of a strong partnership between leading European and African universities, research centres, industry actors, local governments, knowledge and implementation organizations and networks. These will be strengthened via peer-to-peer exchange, policy dialogues, and regional and international events among others.