Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) are working on numerous projects focused on sustainable energy in Africa. Key areas include renewable energy sources such as solar power, biomass, and small-scale hydropower, as well as energy storage and grid stability. Completed projects also provide valuable insights for future collaborations. Together with African partners, KIT develops technological solutions tailored to local needs and environmental conditions.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology – Department of Chemical Engineering
Planned joint research activities focusing on:
- Catalyst development for biomass valorisation
- Preparation of joint funding proposals and seed funding initiatives
Institute:
Department of Chemical Engineering
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Manimagalay Chetty
Duration:
planned collaboration
Partners:
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-01-05
LEAP 2026 – CReaTE
International research collaboration on high-entropy alloy catalysts for integrated green hydrogen production, utilisation and storage in the African context.
Project title:
CReaTE: Catalytic Reactions for the Transformation of Energy
Institute:
Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT)
Contact:
Dr. Moritz Wolf
Duration:
Pre-proposal submitted in 2026
Partners:
Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, University of South Africa, University of Cape Town, Mangosuthu University of Technology
International Research Training Group (DFG) – CITE
Planned international graduate training and research collaboration in sustainable energy catalysis.
Project title:
CITE: Catalytic Innovation for Tomorrow’s Energy – A South African-German Partnership
Institute:
Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT)
Contact:
Dr. Moritz Wolf
Duration:
Draft proposal submitted in 2025
Partners:
University of Cape Town
University of KwaZulu-Natal – Discipline of Chemistry
Joint research activities in sustainable catalysis focusing on:
- Development and characterisation of catalyst materials
- Catalyst testing for biomass valorisation
- Student exchange (Master’s thesis in 2026)
Institute:
Discipline of Chemistry
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Holger Friedrich & Prof. Dr. Mzamo Shozi
Duration:
ongoing collaboration
Partners:
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Durban University of Technology – School of Chemistry
Joint research activities in sustainable catalysis focusing on:
- Development and characterisation of catalyst materials
- Catalyst testing for biomass valorisation
- Student exchange (Master’s thesis in 2026)
Institute:
School of Chemistry
Contact:
A/Prof. Dr. Alisa Dorasamy
Duration:
ongoing collaboration
Partners:
Durban University of Technology
University of Cape Town – Catalysis Institute
Joint research activities in catalysis and sustainable energy technologies focusing on:
- Development and characterisation of catalyst materials
- Catalyst testing for CO₂ valorisation and synthesis gas chemistry
- Student exchange (Master’s thesis in 2024, PhD exchange in 2024 & 2026)
Institute:
Catalysis Institute
Contact:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Claeys & Prof. Dr. Nico Fischer
Duration:
ongoing collaboration
Partners:
University of Cape Town
Care-O-Sene Catalyst Research for Sustainable Kerosene
CARE-O-SENE connects seven major German and South African project partners. Together, they develop optimized catalysts for the production of green kerosene. CARE-O-SENE will play a key role in sustainably transforming industries such as aviation. The goal is to make the production of green kerosene as a fuel alternative economically more attractive.
Institute: IInstitute of Catalysis Research and Technology Institut für Katalyseforschung
und -technologie (IKFT)
Contact: Dr. Moritz Wolf
Duration: 2022 - 2025
Partner: Projektpartner - CARE-O-SENE
Webseite: Home - CARE-O-SENE
Smart-e-Meter The main objective of this project is to develop and establish an innovative, intelligent monitoring system that monitors the electricity distribution network of the Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU)
Project Goals The main objective of this project is to develop and establish an innovative, intelligent monitoring system that monitors the electricity distribution network of the Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) using advanced measurement and communication techniques and the Internet of Things (IoT). The EEU is facing significant challenges with high technical and commercial losses (~40%), outdated infrastructure, lack of real-time information, data, and monitoring systems. Current sensors will be developed to transmit data over long distances using LoRa modulation and implement energy harvesting to provide data even during power outages. The data provided by the sensors will help the EEU to understand the stability issues of the grid and enable faster localization of faults.
ITIV Participation The project will be managed under the supervision of ITIV. The design and implementation of the prototype, the entire system consisting of smart sensors, network topology setup, LoRa gateways, and the central server, will initially be carried out in the laboratory centers of ITIV. Haramaya University, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Electric Utility, will test the developed monitoring system in the city of Harar.
Duration 2021 – 2023
Website KIT - ITIV - Research and Publications - Projects - Projects group Prof. Stork - Smart-e-Meter
Contact Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Wilhelm Stork
Institute ITIV Institut für Technik der Informationsverarbeitung
MoRau Traffic monitoring for sub-Saharan Africa
Context Rapid urbanization in sub-Saharan Africa is transforming cities at an unprecedented pace, bringing with it both opportunities and significant challenges. One of the main challenges is the strain on infrastructure. Many cities are struggling to expand their infrastructure fast enough to meet the growing demand. This includes roads, public transportation, water supply and sewage systems. Managing this rapid urban growth is a huge task and new ways of urban planning need to be developed to create a liveable environment for the people of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
ITIV is leading a project that brings together stakeholders from academia, government, infrastructure and urban planning to develop novel ideas for the city of the future. The main problem is the lack of data on the current influx of people into urban centers. Rush hour is not a phenomenon that only occurs in the developed world. The movement of people is a crucial area of urban planning. Reliable traffic data is needed for this project. Your task is to analyze current products and methods and find the most suitable ones for the project.
Tasks
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Analyze existing traffic counting methods and sensors
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Development of a monitoring system for a district in Addis Ababa
Prerequisites
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Motivation and interest in solving technical problems independently
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Interest in electronics and embedded systems
Duration Start 2024
Institute ITIV Institut für Technik der Informationsverarbeitung
Contact M.Sc. Markus Lehner