Community Talk April 2025

This Community Talks will focus on two possible solutions for two major problems affecting the region of Mombasa and, by extension, Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa. 

The first problem to be addressed is the use of fossil fuels, such as wood and LPG, as cooking sources. The second issue concerns waste management, specifically organic waste from local marketplaces.

As part of the SI project between the Technical University of Mombasa and Hasselt University, research was conducted into the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar heaters and biogas production, to reduce fossil fuel consumption for cooking while simultaneously minimising organic waste. A pilot-scale hybrid biogas digester was designed, integrating a fixed-dome digester with a balloon-type digester.

Additionally, a solar heater was used to preheat water for cooking, reducing the extra energy required to bring it to boiling point. By combining both clean energy sources, a reduction of more than 60% in fossil fuel consumption was achieved, demonstrating the potential of the technology and paving the way for further research into upscaling and implementation at local markets.

Speakers

Prof. Michael Saulo - Technical University Mombasa, Kenya

Prof. Wim Deferme - Hasselt University, Belgium