A £3.5 million Circular Economy Powered Renewable Energy Centre (CEPREC) has been launched towards addressing Africa’s energy and electronic waste challenges.

Operating as a Pan-African, multisectoral, and interdisciplinary Research Centre, CEPREC unites academia, government, and industry to drive collaborative research, innovation, and capacity building. The centre is committed to developing cutting-edge knowledge and skills that leverage circular economy principles to support Africa’s energy transition.

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. It comprises academics from the University of Lagos and the University of Nigeria in Nigeria, De Montfort University, the University of Warwick, and Chatham House in the UK, alongside Strathmore University (Kenya).

Others are the University of Namibia (Namibia), the University of Sierra Leone (Sierra Leone), the Kigali Collaborative Research Centre (Rwanda), Tshwane University of Technology (South Africa), and the University of Nairobi (Kenya).

CEPREC’s primary objective is to develop innovative solutions to Africa’s energy challenges, promoting sustainable development and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The centre will focus on three key research areas: renewable energy, energy efficiency, and circular economy practices.

UKRI International Director, Frances Wood, 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.”

CEPREC will empower local researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to develop, manage, and scale circular microgrid projects through workshops, training programmes, and interdisciplinary knowledge-sharing.

CEPREC Director and Professor of Innovation for Sustainable Development at De Montfort University, Prof Muyiwa Oyinlola, said: “CEPREC was set up to transform the way we 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.

CEPREC Deputy Director (Engineering) and Professor in Power Electronics at the University of Warwick, Prof Layi Alatise, said: “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 its impact is long-lasting. By integrating circular economy principles into Africa’s energy sector, we are creating a resilient and sustainable future.”

Deputy Director (Social Sciences) of CEPREC and Professor of the Economics of Innovation at Warwick Business School, Prof Giuliana Battisti, added: “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.”

In her remarks, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Abi Okoya, said: “CEPREC is committed to forging transformative partnerships that drive Africa’s sustainable energy future. This is more than a Centre—it’s a movement to unite government, industry, and academia in creating innovative, circular solutions that will redefine how we power our communities. We invite stakeholders from across the continent and beyond to join us in scaling impact, driving policy change, and ensuring that Africa leads the global transition to sustainable and inclusive energy systems.”

Chatham House, the globally renowned think tank, is also a collaborator, to ensure that research is transformed into actionable policies, shaping national, regional, and international energy strategies while guiding key decision-makers in sustainable energy and circular economy practices.

Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House, Dr Patrick Schroeder, who is leading CEPREC’s Policy engagement, also said: “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.”