£3.5m Centre Inaugurated to Tackle Africa’s Energy, E-Waste Challenges

Funmi Ogundare

In an effort to address Africa’s energy and e-waste challenges, a Pan-African initiative driving renewable energy innovation through circular economy principles, has inagurated a £3.5 million Circular Economy Powered Renewable Energy Centre (CEPREC).
The centre is committed to developing cutting-edge knowledge and skills that leverage circular economy principles to support Africa’s energy transition.
Speaking during a virtual press conference,
Muyiwa Oyinlola, Director of CEPREC, and Professor of Innovation for Sustainable Development at De Montfort University, explained that 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,” he stated.
He added that the centre was set up to transform the way Africans 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.”
Layi Alatise, Deputy Director (Engineering) of CEPREC, and Professor in Power Electronics at University of Warwick, explained that 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 that its impact is long-lasting. By integrating circular economy principles into Africa’s energy sector, we are creating a resilient and sustainable future.”
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.”
He stated that CEPREC will empower local researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to develop, manage, and scale circular microgrid projects through workshops, training programmes, and interdisciplinary knowledge-sharing.
Giuliana Battisti, Deputy Director (Social Sciences) of CEPREC and Professor of the Economics of Innovation at Warwick Business School, stated that “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.”
Dr. Patrick Schroeder, Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House, who is leading CEPREC’s Policy engagement, announced its role in the interdisciplinary research initiative aimed at addressing e-waste challenges and promoting policy-driven solutions.
According to him, “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.”
He emphasised the institution’s commitment to transforming research findings into actionable policies that can attract investment and drive sustainable change.
“As part of this project, our goal is to ensure that the knowledge generated leads to practical adaptation and policy recommendations,” Schroeader stated. “We need to engage both public and private sector investors, ensuring that their perspectives are reflected in the solutions being proposed.”