REFFECT AFRICA integrates renewable energy solutions based on the biomass gasification technology to optimise the water-energy-food nexus. Through three demonstrator plants in Ghana, Morocco and South Africa, it transforms agricultural wastes into bioenergy, drinking water and biochar

Demographically, Africa’s population is projected to experience massive growth, rising from approximately 1.2 billion in 2018 to over 4.4 billion by the year 2100. Currently, according to the International Energy Agency (2020), nearly 600 million people in Africa lack continuous and reliable access to electricity, particularly in rural areas of the sub-Saharan region. Furthermore, approximately two-thirds of the population in sub-Saharan Africa depends on agriculture for their livelihood (World Bank Open Data, 2024). Agriculture is a sector that generates a vast amount of agri-food waste, which, in most cases, remains unexploited, representing a valuable source for renewable energy generation and local employment.

The REFFECT AFRICA project addresses the development and integration of renewable energy sources for African communities, both grid-connected and off-grid. With the goal of closing the water-energy-food nexus, the project incorporates waste valorisation solutions through biomass gasification technology, which allows us to convert a wide variety of agri-food and forestry residues into bioenergy and biochar.

Objectives

Coordinated by the University of Jaén (Spain) and funded under the European H2020 programme, the project integrates 31 partners from 11 African and five European countries. Its main objectives are:

• Installation and validation of three full-scale demonstrators located in Ghana, Morocco, and South Africa.
• Life cycle assessment: Conducting environmental assessments of each value chain before and after implementing the proposed solution.
• Creation of ‘Living Labs’: Establishing living laboratories to foster future research and the creation of collaborative networks.
• Closing the water-energy-food nexus: Transforming agricultural waste into electrical energy, thermal energy (heat), drinking water, and biochar (charcoal).

The following table shows a summary of the three demonstrators installed during the project’s duration (2021-2026).

Morocco demonstrator

Installed at the Zoyout Essaouira Cooperative (olive oil mill), located in the rural area of Sid L’Mokhtar (31.588251, -9.081435).

• Technical configuration: A 65 kWe downdraft gasifier connected to the grid and supported by a backup diesel generator. It can operate in both on-grid and off-grid (island) modes, with a maximum operating time of 7,500 hours per year and an average biomass consumption of 70-75 kg/h.
• Waste valorisation: Olive pits, dry olive pomace, and olive tree prunings.
• Other generated sub-products: 120 kW of thermal power in the form of hot water and hot air for the mill’s own drying needs. It produces approximately 110-120 tons of biochar per year, which is applied along with compost to the olive plantations (as a biofertiliser).
• Environmental benefits: 100% replacement of fossil fuels compared to the previous installation (diesel case), drastically reducing its carbon footprint and generating approximately 300 carbon credits per year for the owners.
• Job creation: 15 indirect jobs during installation and commissioning (five months) and two direct positions for operation and maintenance tasks.

Ghana demonstrator

Located at the Tuna Technical Senior High School, in a rural area of the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba district (9.489496, -2.430738). The community suffers from a lack of a consistent power supply and lacks access to safe drinking water.

• Technical configuration: A hybrid system including a 20 kWe downdraft gasifier, a 24 kWp photovoltaic system, and a 70 kWh lithium battery bank. It can operate in both on-grid and off-grid (island) modes, with a maximum operating time of 7,500 hours per year and an average biomass consumption of 30 kg/h.
• Waste valorisation: Cashew and peanut shells produced by local farmers.
• Other generated sub-products: 40 kW of thermal power in the form of hot water at 80°C, and 40-50 tons of biochar per year (for clean cooking and/or soil amendment).
• Social impact: Continuous energy supply for the school, which serves more than 1,000 children, and drinking water production with a capacity of generating between 6,000 and 10,000 litres per day through an integrated treatment system.
• Job creation: Ten indirect jobs during installation and commissioning (four months) and three direct positions for operation and maintenance.

South Africa demonstrator

Located in Cape Town, at the waste management company Waste Mart (-33.991014, 18.539866). According to IEA 2023 data, South Africa is one of the countries with the highest dependence on coal worldwide, representing more than 80% of its electricity mix. This results in high pollutant emissions and elevated energy prices.

• Technical configuration: A 50 kWe downdraft gasifier connected to the grid along with a 5 kWe Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) based cogeneration system. The system can operate more than 8,000 h/year and consumes around 46-48 kg/h of biomass.
• Feedstock used: Wood waste (chips and pellets).
• Other generated sub-products: 106 kW of useful thermal power for a biomass dryer and an ORC system. The demonstrator also produces 20 tons of charcoal per year.
• Environmental and economic benefits: Reduction of dependence on fossil fuels (coal). Sale of surplus electricity to the national grid.
• Job creation: Eight indirect jobs during installation and commissioning (six months) and two direct positions for operation and maintenance tasks.

Conclusions

The REFFECT AFRICA project demonstrates the technical feasibility of integrated renewable energy systems in various African contexts. The main conclusions drawn include:

• Technical and environmental feasibility: Biomass gasification is a robust technology for transforming agricultural by-products into high-value resources (energy and biochar), reducing the carbon footprint and generating local employment.
• Identified barriers: The project faced significant challenges, such as a lack of local technical capacity (electricians, mechanics), logistical difficulties due to road conditions, and high import/customs costs (especially in Ghana and Morocco).
• Policy challenges: The absence of strong regulatory frameworks for renewable energies and the lack of revenue for injecting renewable electricity in Ghana and Morocco limit immediate economic profitability.
• Impact on the local community: Beyond energy, the project has demonstrated direct improvements in health (drinking water), education, and the local economy through the creation of technical jobs.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101036900

Please note, this article will also appear in the 26th edition of our quarterly publication.