Transforming old batteries into new resources to improve lives in Africa

IEC's vision to create a safer, more efficient world gained further momentum recently with the launch of a new project supported by the IEC Global Impact Fund (GIF).

Differ Community Power (DCP), an international provider of solar energy services to communities, has been selected to determine the feasibility of using second life lithium batteries to rehabilitate solar PV installations at critical locations such as schools, health centres and hospitals in Kenya. The project is estimated to improve the lives of up to 160 000 rural Kenyans through enabling reliable, clean sources of electricity.

Access to electricity is a significant problem in Sub-Saharan Africa, which has an overall electrification rate of under 50%. Batteries are seen as a key solution to this problem, yet they are expensive and complicated to maintain, resulting in significant amounts of waste.

Existing and previous public and private funding for electrification of critical social infrastructure has focused more on capital than operational expenditure. This has meant that most solar PV systems installed become inoperable within a few years and do not receive end-of-life management or repair.

For most of these systems, the batteries are the component that needs replacing, as most of the other components have a lifespan of more than ten years. Enabling the reuse of the batteries, therefore, enables the reuse of the entire solar PV plant.

With support from the IEC-GIF, DCP will produce second-life batteries that can be used to rehabilitate five solar PV installations, with three other facilities rehabilitated using new batteries to act as a control study. The batteries will undergo safety and performance testing in line with state-of-the art international standards.

The project will also be used as an opportunity to train local subcontractors on wiring regulations and commissioning procedures aligned to international standards. Real time remote monitoring of performance and environmental factors will inform the technical and economic feasibility analyses.

Philippe Metzger, Secretary-General and CEO of the IEC, said: Signing of this project with DCP is an exciting step for the IEC Global Impact Fund. It will allow developing countries to directly benefit from global best practices contained in IEC standards and conformity assessment. This facilitates the interconnection, integration and interoperability of technologies as well as ensuring their safety and efficiency.

Kjetil Roine, CEO of DCP said: Off-grid solar (OGS) technologies provide life-changing access to modern energy services for communities that don't have electricity, but the batteries that run them are most likely to fail first. The support from the IEC Global Impact Fund is a valuable opportunity to develop a sustainable way to re-use the natural resources in batteries without a negative impact on the environment.

What's more, the data created from the project can help further improve relevant standards, which in turn will allow this technology to grow. The result is that more communities can reap the many benefits from electrification while at the same time contributing to climate change mitigation.

The project will run as a two-year pilot, with support from IEC national contacts, and will be actively seeking scalability and additional partners.

About IEC The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is a global, not-for-profit membership organization that brings together 174 countries and coordinates the work of 30 000 experts globally. IEC International Standards and conformity assessment work underpins international trade in electrical and electronic goods. It facilitates electricity access and verifies the safety, performance and interoperability of electric and electronic devices and systems, including for example, consumer devices such as mobile phones or refrigerators, office and medical equipment, information technology, electricity generation, and much more.

Conformity assessment refers to any activity that determines whether a product, system, service and sometimes people fulfil the requirements and characteristics described in a standard or specification. Such requirements can include performance, safety, efficiency, effectiveness, reliability, durability, or environmental impacts such as pollution or noise. Verification is generally done through testing and/or inspection.

About the IEC Global Impact Fund The IEC Global Impact Fund advances the IEC vision for a safer and more efficient world by supporting projects that address many of today's social, economic and environmental challenges, including through the use of IEC International Standards and IEC Conformity Assessment Systems.

Through its partnership model, the Fund will help drive the need for a coordinated, consensus-driven approach to electrification while avoiding the fragmentation that perpetuates barriers to the green energy transition.

It is initially supported through a three-year annual contribution of 1% of the IEC Capital & Reserves over the 2023-2025 pilot phase. This seed funding will build a global partnership aligned with the IEC values and mission.

For questions and further information please contact:

Matthew Doherty

Senior Advisor and Officer

Email: globalimpactfund@iec.ch

LINK:	https://www.iec.ch/blog/transforming-old-batteries-new-resources-impro...
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