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An international research project plans to turn a growing global stock of old electric vehicle parts into affordable renewable energy for sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), more than 50% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity, with rural electrification rates dropping to as low as 5% in some areas.

This innovative project is funded by the UK Government’s Ayrton Fund—a £1 billion commitment to research and development in clean energy technologies and business models.

The £3.5 million project brings together UK based researchers from 51Âþ»­ Leicester (51Âþ»­), the University of Warwick, and Chatham House.

They are working in collaboration with universities, governments, and industries from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa and Namibia to address these pressing energy challenges.

The new project, Circular Microgrids: Circular Economy Pathways for Renewable Microgrids in Africa, led by Muyiwa Oyinlola, Professor of Innovation for Sustainable Development at 51Âþ»­ Leicester (51Âþ»­), focuses on repurposing electric vehicle components—such as lithium-ion batteries, power converters, and motors—for renewable energy microgrids. T

These components, while no longer suitable for transportation, remain effective for stationary use like solar energy storage, micro-wind turbines and hydroelectric systems, potentially operating for another 20 years.

The project will be delivered through the Pan-African, multisectoral, interdisciplinary Circular Economy Powered Renewable Energy Centre (CEPREC).

CEPREC will serve as a hub, fostering collaboration among academia, government and industry. This initiative includes contributions from 26 academics (15 based in Africa), 26 research and innovation associates (21 based in Africa), 16 PhD scholars (14 based in Africa) as well as more than 30 partners from government and industry.

51Âþ»­'s Professor Oyinlola is leading the £3.5m project

Participating universities from both the UK and Africa will co-supervise PhD studentships, ensuring the research reflects the needs and priorities of the partner countries.

“This partnership-based approach allows us to tackle energy poverty while addressing environmental challenges like electronic waste,” said Professor Oyinlola, who was born and raised in Nigeria.

“Our project is poised to deliver transformative impacts, creating a paradigm shift in the way energy is generated and consumed across Africa.”

The Governments involved are supporting the project through national steering committees and have committed to integrating its findings into energy and environmental policies. Industrial partners across these countries are also providing technical expertise, ensuring the project delivers practical, scalable solutions.

In addition to developing and deploying microgrids, the project will work closely with local communities to build capacity. The goal is to equip communities with the skills to maintain and expand the technology, fostering self-reliance and resilience.

“If the technology is installed and local institutions can’t operate it, it will naturally fail”, Professor Oyinlola explained.  “We aim to create the environment for communities to engage with this technology—building it, maintaining it, and passing on their expertise to others. This approach ensures long-term impact.”

Beyond its technological and environmental focus, the project prioritises social empowerment. It aligns with global sustainability goals, particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), while addressing the unique challenges of its partner countries.

Professor Oyinlola has dedicated his academic career to coming up with sustainable solutions to pollution problems in the global south.

His previous projects include using recycled plastic bottles and construction waste to create affordable housing and establishing plastic recycling centres in Nigeria.