In December 2024, Imperial College London announced the launch of the ‘Moving IMPACT’ project, a £3.6 million initiative aimed at enhancing solar energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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This project brings together a diverse consortium of over 13 partners, including universities and industry leaders from Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and the UK, to develop integrated solar mini-grids that support agriculture, clean cooking, and transportation needs.
The ‘Moving IMPACT’ project focuses on integrating solar mini-grids with electric vehicle charging infrastructure to meet the energy demands of communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. By combining renewable energy sources with sustainable transportation options, the project aims to provide reliable and clean energy solutions that can significantly improve health, education, and water access for millions of people.
Dr. Adrià Junyent-Ferré,
A researcher from Imperial’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Over the past decade, the expansion of Solar Home Systems has brought clean lighting and mobile phone charging to millions of households in Africa. But these systems lack the capacity for higher power uses like electric cooking, so people have little choice but to continue to use non-renewable and unhealthy methods in their homes, such as wood-burning stoves.”
The project is funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Ayrton Challenge Programme, which supports transformative transitions to low-carbon energy systems in developing countries. The consortium’s collaborative approach aims to develop sustainable and cost-effective solutions tailored to the specific needs of African communities.
By leveraging the expertise of its international partners, Imperial College London is helping to advance solar energy technologies and promoting sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa. The ‘Moving IMPACT’ project exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing global energy challenges.
At the end of the day, it’s amazing to see how community can hold across borders especially in pursuit of both economic growth and sustainability at the same time.
References:
Google. (2025). Gemini (Imagen 3) [AI image generator]. https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/imagen
Imperial College London. (2024, December 18). New consortium to unlock the power of solar energy in African communities. Retrieved from https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/259393/new-consortium-unlock-power-solar-energy/
UK Research and Innovation. (n.d.). Ayrton Challenge Programme. Retrieved from https://www.ukri.org/our-work/our-main-funds/uk-aid/ayrton-challenge-programme/
BBOXX. (n.d.). Solar mini-grids for sustainable development. Retrieved from https://www.bboxx.com/