Title: Affordable and Scalable Electrodes Derived from Invasive Plants for Sustainable Energy Storage: Advancing the Circular Economy
Speaker: Prof. Shimelis Admassie (University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
Time: April 1, 9:30 a.m -12:00 a.m
Venue: D-306, State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, Guangzhou Wushan Campus
[Abstract]
Africa boasts abundant renewable energy resources including solar, hydrothermal, wind, and geothermal sources. However, these resources are intermittent, necessitating affordable and scalable storage solutions. Traditional electrochemical energy technologies such as batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors are promising but often utilize expensive and environmentally detrimental materials. To address this, there is a need to employ extremely low-cost raw materials, with the resulting materials comprising no more than 75% of the total to reduce expenses. Leveraging unwanted and invasive plants could be particularly effective in this regard, advancing circular economy principles by repurposing these materials into valuable resources for energy storage applications, thereby contributing to sustainable development.
Realizing this vision requires coordinated research and innovation efforts, supported by adequate funding. During the presentation, common challenges encountered by African researchers and lessons learned over the years will be shared and discussed, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and resourcefulness in overcoming obstacles and driving progress in renewable energy technologies.
Announced by School of Light Industry and Engineering
