Clean cooking fuel with a great impact for southern Africa
Sabine Döring (2nd from right), State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), learned about the GreenQUEST initiative during her visit to the University of Cape Town. © UCT
More than 50 scientists from South Africa and Germany are working together in the interdisciplinary GreenQuest project. © UCT
Burning biomass for cooking causes harmful environmental and health issues. The German-South African GreenQUEST initiative is developing a clean household fuel. It aims to reduce climate-damaging CO2 emissions and to improve access to energy for households in sub-Saharan Africa.
In sub-Saharan Africa, almost one billion people have limited access to clean household energy. The widespread use of biomass (including firewood) as an energy source contributes to deforestation, soil erosion and carbon dioxide emissions.
The GreenQUEST project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), aims to develop a green liquefied petroleum gas (LFG or gLFG) as an alternative to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The gLFG currently mirrors the efficiency and clean-burning qualities of LPG but without its fossil carbon burden. It is to be produced from green hydrogen, which is obtained using renewable energies, and carbon dioxide captured from the atmosphere.
The CO2-neutral fuel also promises better access to clean energy for low-income households in Africa. GreenQUEST is not only promoting the technical development of green LPG, but is also analysing the economic, environmental and social impact that a market launch of green LPG could have.
50 researchers from South Africa and Germany work hand in hand
More than 50 scientists from South Africa and Germany are working together on the interdisciplinary project. It is led by the Catalysis Institute of the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin. This partnership promotes lasting relationships in the field of energy research and thus strengthens the strategic alliance between South Africa and Germany.
State Secretary of BMBF sees the potential for positive change globally
"The cooperative approach driving the GreenQUEST project has the potential to effect positive change not only in African communities but globally," said State Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) Prof Dr Sabine Döring on the occasion of her visit to the University of Cape Town. "This exemplifies the commitment of Germany and South Africa to support sustainable initiatives, underscoring the importance of working together for the betterment of all."
- Optical innovations for solar modules - which are the most promising?In 2023, photovoltaic systems generated more than 5% of the world’s electrical energy and the installed capacity doubles every two to three years. Optical technologies can further increase the efficiency of solar modules and open up new applications, such as coloured solar modules for facades. Now, 27 experts provide a comprehensive overview of the state of research and assess the most promising innovations. The report, which is also of interest to stakeholders in funding and science management, was coordinated by HZB scientists Prof. Christiane Becker and Dr. Klaus Jäger.
- Catalysis research with the X-ray microscope at BESSY IIContrary to what we learned at school, some catalysts do change during the reaction: for example, certain electrocatalysts can change their structure and composition during the reaction when an electric field is applied. The X-ray microscope TXM at BESSY II in Berlin is a unique tool for studying such changes in detail. The results help to develop innovative catalysts for a wide range of applications. One example was recently published in Nature Materials. It involved the synthesis of ammonia from waste nitrates.
- Samira Aden joins ETIP PV - The European Technology & Innovation Platform for Photovoltaics ESG Working GroupSamira Jama Aden, Architect Design Research, has joined the ETIP PV - The European Technology & Innovation Platform for Photovoltaics working group “Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)”.