As the demand for clean and reliable energy continues to grow across Africa, there is increasing recognition that achieving sustainable energy access requires more than generation alone. Energy systems must also be resilient, affordable, and designed with long-term performance in mind. At CEPREC, this challenge is being addressed through research that integrates circular economy principles into renewable energy systems.
One key area of focus is the repurposing of retired electric vehicle (EV) batteries for use in energy storage. As electric mobility expands globally, a growing number of EV batteries are reaching the end of their first life. While these batteries may no longer meet the performance requirements of vehicles, many still retain significant capacity that can be utilised in less demanding applications, such as stationary energy storage.
Understanding Second-Life Battery Potential
Ritah Kayesu’s research, under Work Package 2 (WP2), explores how retired EV batteries can be safely and effectively repurposed to support microgrid applications. Microgrids are increasingly being deployed to provide electricity access in underserved and remote communities, yet their reliability often depends on the availability of robust energy storage solutions.
A central aspect of this research is understanding battery degradation. During their first life in electric vehicles, batteries are exposed to varying operating conditions, including high charge and discharge rates, temperature fluctuations, and different usage patterns. These factors influence how the battery ages and how much usable capacity remains.
Ritah’s work examines these degradation patterns in detail, with the aim of determining how batteries are likely to perform when deployed in a second-life context. By linking first-life usage to second-life performance, the research provides a more accurate basis for assessing the suitability of retired batteries for microgrid systems.
From Degradation to Decision-Making
A key question addressed by this research is: how long can repurposed EV batteries reliably operate within mini-grid systems?
Answering this question is critical for system designers, operators, and investors. Reliable performance estimates support better planning, reduce uncertainty, and help ensure that energy storage systems can meet demand over time. This is particularly important in microgrid contexts, where system failures can have significant impacts on communities that depend on them for essential services.
By developing insights into battery ageing and performance, the research contributes to more informed decision-making around battery selection, system design, and operational strategies.
Extending Value Through Circular Approaches
This work also highlights the importance of circular economy thinking in energy systems. Traditionally, EV batteries are considered for recycling once they reach the end of their automotive life. However, this approach overlooks the remaining value embedded in these systems.
By introducing an intermediate stage in the battery lifecycle, second-life applications enable batteries to be repurposed for continued use before final recycling. This not only extends the functional life of the battery but also reduces material waste and delays the need for resource-intensive recycling processes.
In this way, second-life battery use represents a practical pathway for embedding circularity into the energy transition.
The Role of Energy Storage in Renewable Systems
Energy storage plays a critical role in enabling renewable energy systems to function effectively. Solar and wind generation are inherently intermittent, and without adequate storage, maintaining a consistent and reliable electricity supply can be challenging.
In microgrid settings, this challenge is even more pronounced. Systems must be able to respond to fluctuations in both supply and demand while operating within constrained infrastructure environments.
Second-life EV batteries offer a promising solution. By providing a cost-effective and flexible storage option, they can help stabilise energy supply, improve system reliability, and support the integration of higher shares of renewable energy.
Towards Practical Implementation
While the potential of second-life batteries is significant, their successful deployment requires careful consideration of technical, operational, and safety factors. Issues such as battery health assessment, standardisation, system integration, and lifecycle management all play a role in determining feasibility.
CEPREC’s research seeks to address these challenges by generating evidence-based insights that can inform both practice and policy. By bridging the gap between laboratory analysis and real-world application, this work supports the development of scalable and context-appropriate solutions.
Looking Ahead
Through this research, CEPREC continues to advance practical, research-driven approaches to integrating circular economy principles into energy systems. By focusing on real-world challenges and opportunities, the work contributes to a broader effort to design energy systems that are not only clean, but also resilient, efficient, and sustainable over the long term.
As the energy transition accelerates, approaches such as second-life battery repurposing will play an increasingly important role in ensuring that renewable energy systems deliver lasting value for communities across Africa
From Silos to Systems: Powering Africa’s Energy Transition Through Strategic Collaboration
Africa’s energy transition is not only a technological challenge, it is also a coordination challenge. This webinar explores how strategic collaboration across government, industry, and academia is essential to delivering circular, resilient, and inclusive renewable energy systems at scale.
Using CEPREC as a living case study, the session examines how the triple-helix model enables innovation to move beyond research into policy, investment, and real-world deployment. It highlights how coordinated partnerships can unlock adaptive technologies, align policy and regulation, build local skills and institutional capacity, and mobilise finance to support circular energy systems across Africa.
Drawing on CEPREC’s engagements with policymakers, utilities, industry partners, universities, and communities, the webinar offers practical insights into how multi-stakeholder ecosystems can be designed and governed to deliver long-term impact. The session will show why collaboration is not an add-on, but a core condition for achieving a just, circular, and sustainable energy transition.
Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5ec955e9-f48d-45ef-b62b-7ae5f4f8e478@4f78c0e3-d250-4ddf-bb1c-15d3145697cc
From Projects to Systems: Circular Solar Value Networks for African Mini-Grids
Solar mini-grids are central to expanding energy access across Africa, yet many systems are still delivered as one-off projects with limited attention to long-term operation, repair, and end-of-life management. This webinar introduces the concept of circular solar value networks, reframing mini-grids as interconnected systems that integrate design, operation, maintenance, repair, reuse, and responsible decommissioning.
Drawing on recent analytical work by CEPREC researchers in African mini-grid contexts, the session explores how circular approaches can improve system reliability, lower lifecycle costs, and strengthen local technical and institutional capacity. The webinar also examines emerging policy developments in Nigeria, including renewable energy regulation, extended producer responsibility, standards, and local content frameworks, and discusses how these policies may enable or constrain the transition towards circular solar value networks.
The session highlights why moving from isolated projects to circular systems is essential for delivering resilient, affordable, and locally sustained energy access across Africa.
Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5ff86a98-d47f-4ae4-aa75-8758a5cc652e@4f78c0e3-d250-4ddf-bb1c-15d3145697cc
From Modelling to Megawatts: Making Microgrids Work in African Communities
Microgrids play a critical role in expanding electricity access and supporting the energy transition across Sub-Saharan Africa. However, many systems are still designed around upfront feasibility studies that do not fully account for how microgrids operate over time as demand grows, networks become constrained, and user behaviour evolves.
This webinar presents recent research from the CEPREC programme that moves microgrid design from modelling to real-world operation. It demonstrates how incorporating low-voltage network behaviour, demand evolution, and consumer–prosumer interactions can significantly improve reliability, adaptability, and system performance in practice.
The session introduces an integrated modelling approach that combines electrical network analysis with behaviour-informed demand modelling to identify operational constraints, manage congestion, and support better planning and control decisions. It also highlights the role of energy storage as a key operational asset, with a particular focus on the use of second-life electric vehicle batteries to enhance flexibility and resilience in African microgrids.
Drawing on ongoing doctoral research and applied case studies, the webinar shows how network-aware and behaviour-informed approaches can support microgrids that are not only technically feasible, but robust, affordable, and effective in real communities.
Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/704cf190-ac62-4a4b-b59d-2a4004ceb1f4@4f78c0e3-d250-4ddf-bb1c-15d3145697cc
Africa’s Triple Challenge
Africa faces a convergence of three urgent realities.
First, energy demand is rising rapidly. The continent’s population is young and growing, and industrialisation is accelerating. Yet around 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, and many more experience unreliable supply.
Second, grid instability continues to constrain businesses. In some regions, firms experience multiple power outages each month, undermining productivity and investment confidence.
Third, electronic waste is increasing. Africa receives millions of metric tonnes of e-waste annually, with less than 1 percent formally recycled. As electric vehicle adoption expands globally, used EV batteries are increasingly entering African markets.
Seen separately, these are challenges. Viewed together, they reveal a strategic opportunity.
“End of life for mobility does not mean end of life for energy.”
Second-life EV batteries can move from the transport sector into the energy sector, becoming grid assets rather than waste liabilities.
From Mobility Asset to Energy Infrastructure
Electric vehicle batteries are typically retired when they fall to around 70 percent of their original capacity. For a car, that reduction may compromise range and performance. For stationary storage, however, it remains highly usable. In fact, a retired EV battery often becomes a first-life asset for energy storage.
These batteries can support:
- Solar and wind storage systems
- Mini grids and microgrids
- Backup supply for small and medium enterprises
- Load balancing and peak shaving
In contexts where battery systems account for a large share of renewable energy costs, their second-life applications can reduce overall system costs by up to 30 percent or more. For a continent that grapples with high cost sensitivity, this is not marginal. It is transformative.
Why Africa Is Uniquely Positioned
Africa’s energy landscape creates a strong case for second-life batteries.
- Large off-grid and weak-grid populations
- Rapid growth in solar uptake
- Strong demand for cost reduction
- Availability of labour that can be trained for diagnostics and refurbishment
Rather than viewing second-life batteries as technological leftovers, Africa can treat them as inputs into a new circular energy industry.
This is not about importing waste. It is about importing value and extending it.
Circular Business Models That Can Unlock Scale
Technology already exists. The real question is commercialisation. For second-life batteries to scale, business models must reduce upfront costs, distribute risk and enable replication.
Three models stand out.
1. Battery as a Service
Under this model, a provider retains ownership of the battery and offers it as a service to users.
The provider handles:
- Testing and diagnostics
- Refurbishment
- Maintenance and monitoring
Users pay for energy storage capacity rather than purchasing the battery outright. This reduces capital barriers and aligns incentives, since providers have a direct interest in maintaining battery health. Battery-as-a-service is particularly suited to:
- Mini grids
- Microgrids
- Small and medium enterprises
It converts a high upfront cost into an operational expense, enabling faster adoption.
2. Utility and Microgrid Integration
Second-life batteries can be integrated directly into community energy systems. In rural electrification projects, they can lower installation costs significantly. For commercial and industrial clusters in remote areas, they can stabilise supply and reduce dependence on diesel generators.
The circular advantage lies in three areas:
- Lower system cost
- Improved grid reliability
- Increased local resilience
Where grid extension is slow or economically unviable, decentralised storage becomes a practical solution.
3. Aggregation and Platform Models
Scale matters. A third model involves aggregating EV batteries through platform mechanisms. This could include:
- Mass importation of EV fleets
- Partnerships with original equipment manufacturers
- Centralised testing and certification hubs
- Use of battery passports for traceability
Aggregation creates economies of scale. It improves predictability of supply and enables standardised testing protocols. In the long term, such platforms could anchor a domestic second-life battery industry, linking importation, refurbishment and redeployment.
Creating Value Across the Life Cycle
Circular value creation extends beyond repurposing. The full life cycle includes:
- Collection and diagnostics
- Refurbishment and redeployment
- Energy service provision
- Final recycling and material recovery
Each stage creates business opportunities and employment potential. Technicians can be trained in battery diagnostics. Energy managers can oversee decentralised systems. Supply-chain actors can coordinate collection and logistics. When designed intentionally, second-life batteries can support both energy access and industrial development.
Managing Technical and Financial Risks
Second-life applications are not without risk.
Technical challenges include:
- Battery degradation variability
- Thermal management in high-temperature environments
- Lack of standardised reuse protocols
The mitigation of these challenges requires:
- Health diagnostics laboratories
- Modular system design
- Safety standards and certification frameworks
- Digital monitoring through IoT technologies
Additional financial risks also matter. These challenges include:
- Limited patient capital
- Perceived technology risk
- Uncertain revenue streams
Therefore, the solutions may include blended finance, performance-linked contracts and pay-as-you-go service models that reduce capital intensity. Risk management must also be embedded from the start, not added later.
The Policy Dimension
The use of second-life batteries cannot scale without supportive policy ecosystems. Therefore, the key enablers include:
- Circular economy frameworks
- Battery reuse and safety standards
- Cross-border regulatory harmonisation
- Extended producer responsibility mechanisms
- Investment in skills and research
Policy alignment ensures that batteries do not become environmental hazards but structured assets within a regulated value chain.
From Waste Narrative to Strategic Asset
In summary, EV batteries should not be framed as an impending waste crisis. They are strategic energy assets waiting to be redeployed. If circular business models are designed carefully, Africa can reduce energy costs, strengthen grid resilience and create new industrial capabilities.
“Africa has the opportunity not only to adopt circular energy systems, but to lead them.”
From drive to grid, the journey of the battery continues. Thus if managed well, it can power a more resilient and inclusive energy future for the continent.
Innovation Is Not Enough
Across sub-Saharan Africa, around 600 million people still lack reliable access to electricity. Despite global progress, the proportion of people without power in many African countries has remained stubbornly high, particularly in rural communities.
Microgrids offer a promising solution. They are decentralised, flexible and well suited to remote or sparsely populated areas where extending the national grid is too costly. Yet even when the technology exists, adoption remains slow.
Why?
Because innovation alone does not guarantee impact.
“The challenge is not only inventing sustainable technologies. It is ensuring they are adopted, sustained and economically viable.”
From Invention to Diffusion
In the economics of innovation, we distinguish three stages:
1. Invention – the idea is conceived.
2. Innovation – the idea becomes a tangible product.
3. Diffusion – the product spreads through society.
It is the third stage that often proves most difficult.
History shows that even transformative technologies take decades to diffuse. Electric vehicles were invented in the nineteenth century. Wind power, microprocessors and even refrigerators all followed slow, uneven adoption curves across countries and communities.
Diffusion is rarely automatic. It is shaped by information, incentives, institutions and human behaviour.
Why Adoption Is Rationally Delayed?
It is rational for individuals and firms to delay adopting new technology. Uncertainty, cost, risk perception and limited information all influence decision-making.
Some theories suggest technologies spread like epidemics. The more people use them, the more others follow through word of mouth and demonstration effects.
Other models highlight firm characteristics. Larger or more capable organisations may adopt sooner because they have resources and technical expertise. Competitive pressures can either accelerate or deter entry into new markets.
Sociological perspectives emphasise norms and trust. Communities may resist change not because it lacks value, but because it disrupts established habits or social structures.
All of these forces matter when considering circular microgrids.
Circular Microgrids: More Than a Technical Upgrade
At the Circular Economy Powered Renewable Energy Centre, we are developing circular microgrids that repurpose components from electric vehicles, including batteries, converters and motors.
The objective is to make microgrids:
- More affordable
- More sustainable
- More locally adaptable
Repurposing extends the life of valuable materials and reduces waste. In many African contexts, lower labour costs can make second-life applications economically viable.
But technical feasibility is only part of the equation.
We must also ask:
- Who produces these systems?
- Who maintains them?
- Who captures the value?
- What business model ensures long-term sustainability?
Users and Producers: Two Sides of the Same Equation
Much discussion around energy access focuses on households. What is their willingness to pay? How do they perceive reliability? What are their energy needs?
These questions are essential. Yet diffusion also depends on the producer side. Entrepreneurs must see viable returns. Financial institutions must be confident in risk assessments. Supply chains must function effectively. Standards must ensure safety and quality.
If prices fall too rapidly, producers may be discouraged from entering the market. If margins are too thin, long-term maintenance may suffer. Sustainable diffusion requires balance. The product must be affordable for users and profitable enough to sustain suppliers.
“Environmental sustainability is not enough. Circular energy systems must also be economically and financially sustainable.”
Make or Buy? The Industrial Strategy Question
A deeper strategic question is emerging: Should African countries simply import circular components, or should they build local production capacity?
Africa is rich in many of the raw materials required for battery and photovoltaic technologies. Yet much of the value addition currently occurs elsewhere. Components are manufactured overseas and later re-enter African markets as finished products or second-life imports.
Circular microgrids create an opportunity to rethink this trajectory.
- Could local assembly stimulate entrepreneurship?
- Could foreign direct investment support domestic manufacturing?
- Could standards and finance mechanisms unlock industrial growth?
Energy transition can be more than a consumption shift. It can become a catalyst for industrial development.
Data, Context and the Ecosystem Approach
One challenge in understanding adoption in the Global South has been limited data. To address this, we are conducting large-scale surveys across six African countries to gain a deeper understanding of both the demand, whether by firms or households, and the supply side of the technology. We do so via an ecosystem analysis of:
- Household needs, attitudes and willingness to pay
- Institutional and political contexts
- Business readiness including supply chain, state of technology, skills, finanace and the overall business model
This reflects a broader philosophy: energy transition must involve universities, industry and government working together.
Technology, finance, policy and behaviour are interconnected. Remove one piece and diffusion stalls.
From Impact to Transformation
If circular microgrids are to move from innovation to impact, we must think beyond installation. We must consider:
- Long-term maintenance
- Skills development
- Industrial strategy
- Policy alignment
- Entrepreneurial incentives
Diffusion is not a single event. It is a process shaped by ecosystems.
“Impact happens when innovation becomes embedded in institutions, markets and communities.”
Africa’s clean energy transition is not only about delivering electricity. It is about designing systems that are sustainable, scalable and capable of supporting economic growth. Circular energy solutions offer that possibility. But only if we understand how innovation truly spreads.
Circularity Is Not New to Africa
Across Africa, the language of circular economy is gaining momentum. It is often presented as a modern solution to modern problems. Yet, circularity is not foreign to African societies. It is not a recent import. It is part of our heritage.
For generations, African communities have repaired, reused, repurposed and regenerated materials out of necessity and wisdom. Objects were rarely discarded without exploring a second or third life. Waste was minimised not because of climate policy, but because resources were precious.
Today, circular energy systems build on that foundation. They do not introduce a new philosophy. They evolve an existing one.
The difference lies in scale, technology and coordination.
Energy Poverty and the Case for Circular Microgrids
More than 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still lack reliable access to electricity. Rural communities remain disproportionately affected. Without power, schools struggle, clinics operate under strain and economic opportunity is limited.
Circular microgrids offer a pathway forward. These decentralised systems combine renewable energy with repurposed components, including batteries from electric vehicles that have reached the end of their first life. Instead of treating such components as waste, we extend their usefulness to power communities.
This approach aligns environmental responsibility with social need. It reduces waste, lowers costs and increases access.
But technology alone does not guarantee transformation.
Inclusion Must Be at the Centre
If circular energy systems are to succeed, people must be placed at the centre of innovation.
Inclusion is not a decorative add-on. It is a structural requirement.
When communities are meaningfully involved, three important shifts occur:
- Inclusive decision-making
Communities articulate their own priorities. Power relations are understood. Representation of women, youth and marginalised groups is considered from the beginning. - Participatory action
Innovation is designed with communities, not for them. Local knowledge is respected. Research incorporates community perspectives before implementation begins. - Long-term engagement
Partnerships extend beyond data collection or pilot phases. Collaboration builds trust, capacity and eventually ownership.
Without these elements, even technically sound projects risk rejection or collapse.
Inclusion strengthens acceptance and ensures longevity.
From Token Participation to Genuine Leadership
In many rural contexts, participation can easily become symbolic. True inclusion requires deliberate effort.
Communities are not homogeneous. Cultural norms differ. Gender roles vary. Youth voices are not always heard.
Effective inclusion begins with mapping the community fabric:
- Who holds influence?
- Who is excluded from decision spaces?
- What are the social networks at play?
- What do people value most?
For women and marginalised groups, safe and culturally appropriate spaces are often necessary to build confidence and leadership capacity. Empowerment must be practical and context-sensitive. It cannot rely on universal templates.
In some communities, joint training of men and women works well. In others, targeted engagement strategies are more effective. The goal is not representation for numbers alone. The goal is meaningful participation.
Circular Value Chains and Local Economies
Circular energy systems should not extract value from communities. They should generate value within them.
Inclusive value chains are critical. They create opportunities for entrepreneurship, skills development and livelihood enhancement.
In the tourism sector, which I have studied extensively, communities participate in various stages of value creation, from production to service delivery. The same principle applies to circular energy systems.
Questions we must ask include:
- Can local enterprises participate in assembly or maintenance?
- Are there opportunities for youth-led innovation?
- How can women integrate into supply chains?
- What economic value remains in the community?
Circularity is not only about environmental efficiency. It is about equitable economic participation.
When innovation drains communities of time and resources without lasting benefit, it fails. When it builds capacity and generates opportunity, it succeeds.
Policy as a Structural Lever
If there is one structural change that could make inclusion and circularity the norm rather than the exception, it is coherent national strategy.
Circular economy principles cut across ministries. Energy, environment, mining, agriculture and industry are interconnected. Without coordinated policy frameworks, efforts remain fragmented.
Many African countries are experimenting with circular initiatives, yet formal national strategies remain limited. Clear policy direction would:
- Provide regulatory clarity
- Encourage investment
- Align sectors
- Support inclusive implementation
Circularity should not be treated as a trend. It should be embedded in governance structures.
Bridging Tradition and Modern Technology
Modern technologies such as electric vehicle batteries or advanced power electronics may be new to many communities. Yet the principle behind their reuse is familiar.
The concept evolves. The materials change.
The challenge is to educate, engage and contextualise. Communities must understand that repurposing a battery for a microgrid is an extension of long-standing practices of renewal and regeneration.
This bridge between tradition and innovation strengthens legitimacy and trust.
Towards Equitable Energy Futures
Circular energy is not simply a technological advancement. It is a pathway toward equitable development.
If responsibly implemented, Africa can lead in sustainable models that integrate:
- Environmental integrity
- Economic viability
- Social inclusion
Circular microgrids demonstrate that energy transition can align with community empowerment rather than bypass it.
Innovation becomes impact when it is embedded in institutions, embraced by communities and supported by policy.
Circularity in Africa is not about imitation. It is about evolution. And inclusion is what ensures that evolution benefits all.
A Second Life for the Machines that Moved Us
Across Africa, millions still live without reliable electricity. Yet at the same time, a new wave of electric vehicles (EVs) is changing global mobility. Hidden inside every one of those cars is a powerful machine that could help bridge Africa’s energy gap, the electric motor.
When a vehicle reaches the end of its life, its motor does not. These motors are built for strength, endurance and high performance under harsh conditions. The question is simple can we turn retired EV motors into generators that power our homes, schools and clinics?
"A motor that once powered mobility on the road can now power electricity in a community.”
Why Electric Vehicle Motors Matter
EV motors are compact, robust and efficient. Designed to handle acceleration, vibration and heat, they are ideal candidates for stationary applications such as small hydro and wind-powered microgrids.
In a continent where more than 600 million people still lack access to electricity, repurposing EV motors could be a game-changer. Instead of being treated as e-waste, these machines can be re-engineered into clean energy generators, producing clean power where it is needed most.
By integrating retired motors into standalone microgrids, local industries can reduce their dependence on expensive imports by extending the life of high-value materials like rare-earth magnets and copper windings required for manufacturing power generators.
Understanding the Opportunity
Modern EVs use a variety of motor types, from induction machines to permanent magnet synchronous motors. The latter dominate because of their high efficiency and torque density, but they are also expensive.
When these motors reach the end of their vehicle life, much of their potential remains unused. Through simple reconfiguration and modest adaptation, they can operate as generators driven by small wind or hydro turbines.
Unlike in a car, where the motor must handle rapid acceleration and braking, a microgrid generator works under steady, lower-stress conditions. The modest duty cycle under stationary microgrid application could give a repurposed EV motor a new lease of life, which could extend its usability by several years.
"We are not only recycling for the sake of waste management; we are re-engineering for energy access.”
From Motion to Generation
Repurposing begins with careful inspection and testing. Engineers assess each motor’s electrical, mechanical and thermal health to determine its remaining useful life. Key steps include:
- Diagnostics and failure analysis to identify wear or damage.
- Reconfiguration of windings or drive interfaces to suit low-speed turbines.
- Integration with converters and controllers to stabilise voltage output.
- Validation through experimental and real-world microgrid applications.
By converting mechanical energy from wind or water into electricity, a retired EV motor becomes the heartbeat of a small renewable energy system.
Circular Economy in Motion
This idea sits at the intersection of two global transitions: electrified mobility and renewable power. It is also a perfect expression of the circular-economy mindset, keeping valuable materials in use, reducing environmental impact and creating new industrial opportunities.
A reuse-first strategy also saves the energy and emissions associated with recycling or remanufacturing. Instead of dismantling motors and smelting their metals, we can repair, reconfigure and redeploy them immediately.
If scaled, this approach could stimulate local green-tech enterprises, build requisite skills in microgrid installation and maintenance while lowering the cost of distributed generation for off-grid communities, directly supporting Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET) goals.
Designing for the Future
The long-term vision goes beyond repurposing today’s motors. Future EVs can be designed with modularity and circularity in mind, allowing components to be easily extracted, tested and reused. Manufacturers and policymakers can collaborate to rechannel end-of-life EV components towards secondary clean energy projects instead of dumping them at scrapyards.
By aligning industrial design, policy frameworks and community needs, Africa can position itself not as a recipient of discarded technology, but as a leader in circular energy innovation, turning waste into wealth.
Powering Progress, One Motor at a Time
Repurposing retired EV motors is more than an engineering challenge but serves as a model of how innovation, sustainability and inclusive development could converge to meet Africa’s most pressing needs. Every decommissioned motor represents a chance to light a school, power a health clinic or drive a local enterprise.
If we can transform wheels into watts, we can transform challenges into opportunities and move closer to a just and inclusive energy future.
"From the road to the river, from motion to generation, the journey of innovation never truly ends.”
We’re pleased to share a new policy analysis authored by Elizabeth Adetoye, Afolashade Odumuyiwa and Patrick Schröder, published via Chatham House’s CircularEconomy.earth, as part of CEPREC’s ongoing policy engagement.
The article examines a critical but often overlooked issue in Africa’s energy transition: how the rapid expansion of solar mini-grids risks creating long-term sustainability challenges if repair, reuse, skills, and end-of-life considerations are not embedded from the outset.
Drawing on circular economy principles, the piece highlights why system design, local capacity building, and policy alignment are essential to ensure that off-grid energy infrastructure delivers lasting value, not future risk.
This work reflects CEPREC’s wider focus on aligning clean energy access with circularity, resilience, and locally grounded capability across Africa.
🔗 Read the full article here: https://circulareconomy.earth/publications/circularity-of-solar-mini-grids-in-africa
From Drive to Grid: Circular Business Models for Second-Life EV Batteries in Africa
As electric vehicle deployment accelerates alongside renewable energy expansion, Africa faces a critical opportunity to unlock the value of end-of-life EV batteries beyond mobility. This webinar examines how second-life EV batteries can be repurposed into stationary energy storage systems through circular business models tailored to African energy markets.
Focusing on models such as Battery-as-a-Service, Energy-as-a-Service, and product-service systems, the session explores how business innovation, rather than technology alone, can reduce upfront costs, manage risk, and enable scale across mini-grids, commercial, industrial, and community energy systems. Grounded in Africa-relevant use cases, the webinar highlights how circular business models can support energy access, affordability, and system resilience, while embedding repair, reuse, and responsible end-of-life management from the outset.
Designed for practitioners, policymakers, innovators, financiers, and development partners, the session offers practical insights into translating second-life battery potential into bankable, scalable energy solutions.
Register here: https://bit.ly/CEPRECJanuaryWebinar
From Innovation to Inclusion: Advancing Circular Energy Access in Rural Africa
As Africa’s renewable energy transition accelerates with the rise of new technologies and the integration of circular economy principles, crucial questions emerge about how these innovations can be deployed responsibly and equitably.
This talk examines how circular energy solutions can be implemented in ways that are environmentally sound, socially inclusive, and grounded in local realities. It highlights the importance of understanding the entire value chain of circular energy systems, from sourcing and repurposing to deployment and end-of-life management, to ensure that rural energy initiatives are both impactful and sustainable.
The session will emphasise that circularity extends far beyond repurposing and recycling. It requires evidence-informed policies, inclusive decision-making, and context-appropriate planning to ensure that circular microgrids contribute meaningfully to equitable and resilient rural energy access across Africa
From Innovation to Impact: Advancing the Adoption of Circular Energy Solutions
Across Africa, a growing number of technologies are being developed to advance sustainable electrification through circular economy principles, from refurbishing and repurposing batteries to creating cleaner, more efficient energy systems. Yet, while these innovations hold immense potential, their real impact depends on adoption and use within communities.
This webinar takes an ecosystem perspective, examining how social, cultural, and economic factors shape the journey of innovation from labs to livelihoods. It will explore the interplay between supply and demand-side dynamics, from investment decisions and market readiness to user awareness and behavioural change, and the crucial role of policy, standards, and regulation in enabling scale.
By connecting the dots between technology development and social adoption, the session highlights how inclusive innovation ecosystems can accelerate Africa’s transition to a sustainable, equitable, and circular energy future.
From Stress to Stability: Sustainable Thermal Pathways for Microgrid Resilience
Microgrids are vital to expanding clean energy access across Africa, yet their reliability is often challenged by mismatched demand peaks, high thermal loads, and limited storage capacity. This webinar will explore how sustainable thermal technologies can ease pressure on microgrids through strategies such as load shifting, peak shaving, demand avoidance, and hybridisation.
We will examine innovative solutions including thermal storage, solar water distillation, solar-driven cooling, and low-energy indoor comfort systems. Drawing on insights from the CEPREC Project, the session will highlight how novel thermal devices and circular economy principles can strengthen microgrid resilience while delivering sustainable, affordable solutions for rural and underserved communities.
From Perception to Power: Understanding Consumer Behaviour in Africa’s Clean Energy Transition
Adopting renewable energy technologies is vital for Africa’s sustainable energy future. Yet human behaviour, shaped by behavioural, economic, and psychological factors, remains complex. Understanding and anticipating these behaviours is key to creating policies and business models that accelerate clean energy uptake.
Drawing on empirical data, this session will cover:
- How consumers perceive renewable energy technologies
- Behavioural models explaining adoption drivers and barriers
- Practical strategies for influencing decision-making
Join us to discover how these insights can inform policy, guide business innovation, and strengthen community engagement for a just, inclusive energy transition.
From Waste to Watts: Unlocking Safe, Second-Life Energy Storage for Africa’s Mini-Grids
As electric vehicles (EVs) surge globally, the retirement of EV batteries is creating a new kind of challenge—how to safely manage this growing stream of battery e-waste.
In Africa, this challenge intersects with a pressing opportunity: the urgent need for affordable, reliable energy storage to support renewable-powered mini-grids in underserved communities.
This webinar, hosted by the CEPREC team at Kigali Collaborative Research Centre (KCRC), explores how second-life EV batteries—still holding substantial capacity—can be safely repurposed to meet this need. We’ll explore:
- Safety protocols and standards for battery reuse
- Circular business models that enable scale and impact
- Real-world case studies from across the continent
- Financing implications and risk management
Join us to learn how the circular economy is transforming waste into opportunity—safely powering Africa’s energy future.
From Wheels to Watts: Powering Africa with Retired EV Motors
As Africa scales up electrification efforts, the demand for clean, cost-effective energy solutions is greater than ever. But what if the key lies in components we already have?
Join us for an insightful webinar with Dr. Udochukwu Bola Akuru (Tshwane University of Technology), as we explore how end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) motors—especially permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs)—can be repurposed to generate electricity for decentralised microgrids across Africa.
We’ll cover:
- The engineering behind reconfiguring EV motors for small-scale power generation
- Challenges like thermal performance, rare earth magnet degradation, and rotor compatibility
- Opportunities to align e-waste management, local manufacturing, and renewable integration
- The potential for circular economy innovation that reduces cost, builds resilience, and empowers African communities
This session will connect practical engineering with the vision for a sustainable, circular energy transition.
From Road to Grid: Exploring the Second Life Potential of EV Power Electronics
Join us for the kickoff of CEPREC’s Monthly Webinar Series, featuring Professor Layi Alatise, Royal Society Industry Fellow in Power Electronics at the University of Warwick.
This session explores the untapped potential of power electronic components from electric vehicles (EVs) and how they can be repurposed for use in renewable energy systems across Africa. Learn how retired converters and inverters could power homes, clinics, and microgrids—supporting Africa’s clean energy future through circular innovation.
Whether you're a researcher, policymaker, engineer, or just curious about sustainable tech—this webinar is for you.
CEPREC team members Dr Patrick Schröder and Professor Muyiwa Oyinlola contributed to the Winter edition of The World Today (Chatham House’s international affairs magazine) with a field-based reflection on how solar mini-grids are reshaping rural electrification in Nigeria.
Drawing on direct engagement with Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria and on-the-ground project experience with CEESOLAR, the article examines how decentralised energy systems, policy coordination, and international partnerships are expanding access to power. It also raises critical questions around energy sovereignty, local manufacturing, and the role of circularity in Africa’s clean energy transition.
The piece highlights why repair, reuse, and second-life technologies must be embedded from the outset if renewable energy systems are to deliver long-term resilience and local value; a core focus of CEPREC’s work across the continent.
Read the full article here 👇🏾
CEPREC was honoured to co-host the Green Digital Infrastructure for Africa Dialogue on the sidelines of #UNGA80 in New York, convened by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (FMCIDE) in partnership with the African Telecommunications Union (ATU).
Our Director, Professor Muyiwa Oyinlola, chaired the opening panel on Africa’s Green Infrastructure, where panellists Vanessa Gray (International Telecommunication Union) and Soji Maurice-Diya (NATCOM) highlighted opportunities to green Africa’s digital backbone and reduce reliance on diesel generators.
Our Deputy Director, Professor Giuliana Battisti, joined IHS Towers COO, Kazeem Oladepo, on the panel Mobilising Partnerships & Finance, moderated by Osibo I..
Drawing on CEPREC’s field-based research, she emphasised the importance of local capacity, skills development, and innovation as key enablers for unlocking sustainable investment in Africa’s digital and energy transitions. With connectivity expanding rapidly, the dialogue reinforced that Africa’s digital and energy transitions must go hand in hand, ensuring growth that is reliable, affordable, and environmentally friendly.
A huge thank you to FMCIDE for convening such an important conversation. CEPREC remains committed to advancing research, innovation, and partnerships that drive Africa’s green digital future.
As COP30 Brazil enters its second week, the CEPREC team continues to engage actively through discussions, presentations, and roundtables, contributing to global conversations on Africa’s just, inclusive, and circular energy transition.
Our engagements have focused on advancing capacity building, innovation, and indigenous knowledge systems all vital to accelerating sustainable electrification and ensuring no one is left behind.CEPREC’s work aligns with COP30’s key objectives:
- Tripling renewables and expanding universal energy access
- Fostering education, capacity building, and job creation for climate action
- Promoting innovation, circularity, and sustainable systems for long-term resilience.
By collaborating across government, industry, and academia, we are helping to shape an energy future that is clean, equitable, and locally driven.
CEPREC team members Dr Abi Okoya and Professor Muyiwa Oyinlola facilitated a workshop on Circular Economy for Energy and Sustainability at the Global Sustainability and Education Leadership (G-SEL Conference) Conference 2025.
It was inspiring to see such enthusiasm and thoughtful engagement from participants, exploring how circular thinking can drive a more inclusive and sustainable energy future.
A big thank you to the organisers and everyone who joined the discussion. Events like this highlight the power of collaboration, innovation, and shared learning in driving real change.
The Human Side of the Energy Transition
The shift to clean energy in Africa is not only a technical or financial challenge. It is, at its core, a human one. Across the continent, governments, innovators and communities are working to expand access to electricity through renewable solutions such as solar microgrids, wind power and repurposed electric-vehicle technologies. Yet technology alone cannot deliver transformation.
To achieve universal, sustainable energy access, we must first understand how people think, decide and act.
“Clean energy adoption is not just about affordability. It is about perception, trust and the way people make decisions.”
The Three Traps That Hold Us Back
In behavioural economics, many policies fail not because they are poorly designed, but because they fall into what Banerjee and Duflo, winners of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2019 call the three I’s trap: Ideology, Ignorance and Inertia.
- Ideology blinds experts who assume technical superiority will automatically translate into adoption.
- Ignorance limits funders or aid organisations who overlook local contexts.
- Inertia slows policymakers who postpone decisions or rely on outdated systems.
Recognising these traps allows us to design smarter, more responsive interventions that align with real human behaviour rather than idealised assumptions.
Income Isn’t Everything
A common simplification is that energy choices depend purely on income. If people can afford solar panels or electric cookers, they will buy them. Reality is far more nuanced.
Human decision-making is shaped by attitudes, risk perception, social influence and trust. In many African contexts, even when people can afford a renewable option, uncertainty about performance, maintenance or social acceptance can prevent adoption.
In one study we conducted in Lagos, rural consumers prioritised community ownership of mini-grids, while urban consumers valued uninterrupted power and flexible payments. The same technology meant different things to different people.
“Consumers are not just buyers of electricity; they are active participants in shaping the energy future.”
Circular Microgrids and Behavioural Insight
At the Circular Economy Powered Renewable Energy Centre (CEPREC), we are developing circular microgrids that repurpose end-of-life electric-vehicle components which includes; batteries, converters and motors to provide low-cost, reliable electricity.
But engineering excellence must meet behavioural understanding. The success of these systems depends on whether households and communities trust the technology, perceive value, and feel ownership of the solution.
That is why we combine social-science methods such as surveys, focus groups and choice-modelling, with engineering innovation. By mapping preferences, awareness and risk perception, we can design energy systems that people truly want and use.
Nudging Towards Sustainable Choices
Policy and market incentives alone are not enough. Behavioural insights show that information and framing can dramatically influence energy behaviour.
- Feedback and comparisons: Showing households how their energy use compares to similar homes encourages efficiency.
- Positive reinforcement: Simple visual feedback, such as an app notification celebrating energy-saving behaviour—builds long-term habits.
- Targeted messaging: Tailored communication that addresses trust, reliability and cost transparency helps overcome scepticism about renewables.
These “nudges” are low-cost but powerful tools to promote sustainable choices without restricting freedom.
Towards Behaviour-Smart Energy Policy
Africa’s energy transition cannot rely solely on imported models or assumptions. We must design policies that reflect local perceptions, cultural values and decision patterns.
That means:
- Integrating behavioural data into national energy planning.
- Supporting local institutions to design community-centred energy programmes.
- Building public trust through transparency and participation.
When people understand and believe in the change, adoption follows naturally.
The Power of Perception
From Nigeria to Rwanda, Kenya to Namibia, one message is clear: technology may generate power, but people generate progress.
If we can turn perception into power by understanding how consumers think and behave, we can accelerate Africa’s clean energy journey, ensuring it is not only renewable, but truly inclusive.
The Circular Economy Powered Renewable Energy Centre (CEPREC) has officially launched, marking a ground-breaking step towards addressing Africa’s energy and e-waste challenges.
Operating as a Pan-African, multisectoral, and interdisciplinary Research Centre, CEPREC unites academia, government, and industry to drive collaborative research, innovation, and capacity building. The Centre is committed to developing cutting-edge knowledge and skills that leverage circular economy principles to support Africa’s energy transition
CEPREC is funded by the UK Government’s Ayrton Fund, a £1 billion commitment to clean energy research and development. The initiative is supported by an extensive partnership involving over 30 stakeholders from government, industry, and academia across the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. Initially, CEPREC will operate in six sub-Saharan African countries — Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Namibia, and Rwanda — before expanding further across the continent.
Frances Wood, UKRI International Director, said: “The Ayrton Challenge Programme demonstrates the power of research and innovation to address critical global challenges. These projects exemplify how equitable, interdisciplinary collaboration can unlock transformative solutions, ensuring a sustainable and inclusive energy future for all.” CEPREC will empower local researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to develop, manage, and scale circular microgrid projects through workshops, training programmes, and interdisciplinary knowledge-sharing.
Professor Muyiwa Oyinlola, Director of CEPREC and Professor of Innovation for Sustainable Development at De Montfort University, said: "CEPREC was set up to transform the way we think about waste, —turning it into opportunity, empowering communities, and driving economic transformation. This initiative will set a new benchmark for sustainable energy solutions across Africa.
Professor Layi Alatise, Deputy Director (Engineering) of CEPREC, and Professor in Power Electronics at University of Warwick, said: "When technology is implemented without local capacity to maintain and expand it, sustainability is compromised.
CEPREC will prioritise knowledge transfer and skills development to ensure its impact is long-lasting. By integrating circular economy principles into Africa’s energy sector, we are creating a resilient and sustainable future."
Professor Giuliana Battisti, Deputy Director (Social Sciences) of CEPREC and Professor of the Economics of Innovation at Warwick Business School, added: "This initiative represents a unique opportunity to align cutting-edge research with real-world applications. By combining technological innovation with policy integration, we can create a self-sustaining ecosystem for Africa’s renewable energy future.” Chatham House, the globally renowned think tank, is also a collaborator, to ensure that research is transformed into actionable policies, shaping national, regional, and international energy strategies while guiding key decision-makers in sustainable energy and circular economy practices. Dr. Patrick Schroeder, Senior Research
Fellow at Chatham House, who is leading CEPREC’s Policy engagement, also said: "The transition to a circular economy is not just an environmental imperative; it requires a comprehensive international policy framework that fosters innovation, collaboration, and sustainable practices across all sectors."
CEPREC’s initial focus countries were strategically selected to represent the diversity of sub-Saharan Africa, covering East, West, and Southern regions. These countries differ significantly in energy access rates, economic scale, and population size, — from 85% energy access in South Africa to just 5% in rural Sierra Leone, and from Nigeria’s $477 billion GDP to Sierra Leone’s $4 billion economy. This diversity ensures that CEPREC addresses a broad spectrum of challenges and opportunities across the continent.
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The long-term vision for CEPREC is to establish itself as the leading research centre driving new knowledge, policy development, and skills empowerment for Africa’s energy transition. The initiative aligns with key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
With the official launch of CEPREC, key stakeholders are invited to collaborate on this transformative initiative. In her remarks, Abi Okoya, Head of Strategic Partnerships said, “CEPREC is committed to forging transformative partnerships that drive Africa’s sustainable energy future. This is more than a Centre—it’s a movement to unite government, industry, and academia in creating innovative, circular solutions that will redefine how we power our communities. We invite stakeholders from across the continent and beyond to join us in scaling impact, driving policy change, and ensuring that Africa leads the global transition to sustainable and inclusive energy systems.”
