REFFECT AFRICA integrates renewable energy solutions based on biomass gasification technology to optimize the relationship between water, energy and food. It converts agricultural waste into bioenergy, potable water and biochar through three demonstration plants in Ghana, Morocco and South Africa.
Demographically, Africa’s population is expected to grow significantly, increasing from approximately 1.2 billion in 2018 to more than 4.4 billion by 2100. According to the International Energy Agency (2020), approximately 600 million people in Africa currently lack continuous and reliable access to electricity, especially in rural areas south of the Sahara. Additionally, approximately two-thirds of the population of sub-Saharan Africa depends on agriculture for their livelihoods (World Bank Open Data, 2024). Agriculture is a sector that generates huge amounts of agro-food waste, which remains largely untapped, making it a valuable source of renewable energy generation and local employment.
The REFFECT AFRICA project works to develop and integrate renewable energy sources for African communities, both on-grid and off-grid. With the goal of breaking the nexus between water, energy and food, the project incorporates a waste valorization solution with biomass gasification technology, which enables the conversion of a wide range of agricultural and forestry residues into bioenergy and biochar.
the purpose
The project, coordinated by the University of Jaén (Spain) and funded under the European H2020 program, integrates 31 partners from 11 African and 5 European countries. Its main purposes are:
Installation and validation of three full-scale demonstrators located in Ghana, Morocco and South Africa. Lifecycle Assessment: Conduct an environmental assessment of each value chain before and after implementing the proposed solution. Creation of a “living lab”: Establishing a living lab to facilitate future research and the creation of collaborative networks. Breaking the nexus between water, energy and food: converting agricultural waste into electrical energy, thermal energy (heat), potable water and biochar (charcoal).
The following table provides an overview of the three demonstrators installed during the project period (2021-2026).
demonstrators in morocco
Located in the Zoyout Essaouira Cooperative (olive oil factory) in the countryside of Sid L’Mokhtar (31.588251, -9.081435).
Technical configuration: 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. Valorizing waste: olive seeds, dried olive pomace, olive tree pruning. Other by-products produced include: 120 kW of heat output in the form of hot water and hot air for the drying needs of the plant itself; Approximately 110-120 tons of biochar are produced annually and applied along with the compost (as biofertilizer) to the olive plantations. Environmental benefits: 100% fossil fuel substitution compared to previous installations (with diesel), significantly reducing carbon emissions and generating approximately 300 carbon credits per year for owners. Job creation: 15 indirect jobs during installation and commissioning (5 months) and 2 direct jobs for operations and maintenance tasks.
demonstrators in ghana
It is located at Tuna Technical High School in the countryside of Saura Tuna Kalva district (9.489496, -2.430738). The community lacks reliable electricity supply and access to safe drinking water.
Technical configuration: Hybrid system including 20 kWe downdraft gasifier, 24 kWp solar power system, and 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. Securitization of waste: cashew and peanut shells produced by local farmers. Production of other by-products: 40 kW of thermal power generation in the form of hot water at 80°C, and 40-50 tons of biochar per year (for clean cooking and/or soil improvement). Social impact: Continuous energy supply to a school serving more than 1,000 children and production of potable water with an integrated treatment system capacity of 6,000 to 10,000 liters per day. Job creation: 10 indirect jobs during installation and commissioning (4 months) and 3 direct jobs for operation and maintenance.
demonstrators in south africa
Waste management company Waste Mart (-33.991014, 18.539866) in Cape Town. According to IEA 2023 data, South Africa is one of the most dependent countries on coal in the world, accounting for more than 80% of its electricity mix. As a result, large amounts of pollutants are emitted and energy prices soar.
Technical configuration: 50 kWe downdraft gasifier connected to the grid together with a 5 kWe Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) based cogeneration system. The system can operate for more than 8,000 hours per year and consumes approximately 46-48 kg/h of biomass. Raw materials used: Wood chips (chips, pellets). Other generated by-products: 106 kW of heat output useful for biomass dryers and ORC systems. The demonstration experiment will also produce 20 tons of charcoal per year. Environmental and economic benefits: Reduced dependence on fossil fuels (coal). Sell surplus electricity to the national power grid. Job creation: 8 indirect jobs during installation and commissioning (6 months) and 2 direct jobs for operations and maintenance tasks.
conclusion
The REFFECT AFRICA project will demonstrate the technical feasibility of integrated renewable energy systems in different African contexts. The main conclusions drawn are:
Technical and environmental feasibility: Biomass gasification is a powerful technology for converting agricultural by-products into high-value resources (energy and biochar), reducing carbon emissions and creating local jobs. Barriers identified: The project faced significant challenges, including a lack of local technical capacity (electricians, mechanics), logistical difficulties due to road conditions, and high import/customs costs (particularly in Ghana and Morocco). Policy challenges: In Ghana and Morocco, the absence of strong regulatory frameworks for renewable energy and a lack of revenue to inject renewable power have limited immediate economic profitability. Community Impact: Beyond energy, this project demonstrated direct improvements in health (drinking water), education, and the local economy through the creation of skilled jobs.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement number 101036900.
Please note: This is a commercial profile
This article will also be published in the quarterly magazine issue 26.
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