Solar Fuels for Ethiopia: Establishment of a competence centre for Power-to-X

Project goals

• Establishment of a course on P2X theory and practical experiments at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MScE) at ASTU. The course conveys the latest scientific findings and covers all the necessary basics.
• Planning, construction and commissioning of a methanol synthesis plant on a laboratory scale at ASTU. This plant supports P2X research, in particular the optimisation of operating parameters and the development and evaluation of catalysts.
• Development and acquisition of further project proposals to strengthen the competence centre at ASTU.

The overall objective of the project is to alleviate energy poverty in rural Ethiopia through the provision of clean, affordable and sustainable fuels and the introduction of P2X technology to decarbonise all relevant sectors in Ethiopia.

To achieve this goal, a competence centre for P2X technology will be established at ASTU's MScE in Adama. This competence centre will regularly produce trained specialists, conduct internationally competitive research in the field of P2X and promote appropriate institutional frameworks.

Pre-project

The development of the ‘Solar Fuels’ project was initiated in spring 2020. Initially, a site-unspecific feasibility study for a P2X plant was carried out. Based on these results, various project options were outlined and compared. The establishment of a competence centre for P2X technology at ASTU was identified as the most promising option and developed further. Fundraising was then launched for the planning phase of the ‘Solar Fuels’ project, which was successfully completed in early 2022.

Planning phase (completed)

The planning phase for the construction of a research and demonstration plant was started at the beginning of 2022 and successfully completed at the end of 2022. During this phase, it was determined that power-to-methanol is the most promising P2X approach for the Ethiopian context. Subsequently, a feasibility study for a power-to-methanol demonstration plant on the ASTU campus was carried out. In parallel, initial concepts for a P2X curriculum at MScE ASTU and a research plan for the planned plant were developed.

However, it was not possible to successfully secure funding for the implementation phase, which was estimated to cost between CHF 2 and 2.4 million. In mid-2023, it was therefore decided to restructure the implementation phase. It was decided to reduce the planned research and demonstration facility from demonstration scale to laboratory scale. The focus of the project remains on education and research. Although the demonstration effect for the P2X technology will be reduced as a result, the goal of establishing a competence centre at ASTU will continue to be pursued.

Implementation phase

With the adapted approach, the project will be driven forward in smaller steps, whereby the goal of establishing a competence centre for P2X research at ASTU will remain.

The first steps of the implementation phase include the development and introduction of a new course for P2X technology at MScE ASTU, which includes both theoretical and practical elements. In addition, the development and commissioning of a laboratory-scale methanol synthesis plant is planned, which will also enable cutting-edge research thanks to modern measuring equipment. In addition, further measures to strengthen the capacities of the MScE ASTU in the field of P2X are being developed and financed.

In the long term, the competence centre for P2X technology is expected to become a key driver for the implementation of P2X technology in Ethiopia. This is to be achieved on the one hand through the continuous training of specialists, the development and evaluation of implementation concepts on a commercial scale for Ethiopian applications, and on the other hand by raising awareness of this key technology for the energy transition. In addition, efforts are being made to create suitable institutional framework conditions.

Figure 1 Wirkungslogik