With the aim of combating plastic waste, contributing to sustainable energy solutions, and ensuring affordable fuel, the University of Ghana (UG) is set to commercialize its plastic-to-fuel conversion project.
Professor David Dodoo-Arhin, Director of the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST), revealed that the decision to scale up the project followed successful proof of concept trials involving vehicle testing with fuel derived from plastic waste.
He made this announcement during the university’s 7th industry-academia interaction series and exhibition, themed ‘sustainable energy transitions and climate change: the role of partnership’.
“We will be moving into large-scale production. We have successfully proven the concept, and it worked. So, we intend to scale it up and look forward to welcoming potential partners,” he stated.
The research project began in 2018 through a partnership between the School of Engineering Sciences and IAST at the University of Ghana, with assistance from the French embassy.
While there are various methods for recycling plastics, the approach employed in this endeavor is known as valorization. Its objective is to assign value to plastics while gradually reducing their presence in the environment.
On the particular plastics utilised in the conversion process, he said: “We are looking at single-use plastics including polyethylene bags, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, among others”.
He mentioned that his organization has completed installations of the locally constructed reactor or processor for plastics-to-fuel in Osu Alata.
Additionally, they plan to conduct a training program in June to educate approximately 50 youths in the community on the processes of washing, cleaning, and segregating plastics.
“By mid-June, we will start the training project. The training is to empower the youth, especially those who are not employed. They will get into the value chain of collecting the plastics.
“We will train them on how to wash the plastics, how to clean them and segregation, then take them through the process of conversion which is a little bit technical. But currently, we intend to train about 50 community members on this project,” he added.
Furthermore, he elaborated that the objective of the plastic project in Osu is to intercept plastics destined for the ocean and to encourage fishermen to view plastics as a valuable resource for fuel production.
Dr. Dodoo-Arhin described the project as a “game changer” and expressed confidence in the fuel’s affordability advantage, saying: “Looking at what we have done, it’s going to be a little cheaper if we go the way we are running”.
Nana Osei-Bonsu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Private Enterprise Federation, expressed concern over the adverse effects of high electricity costs on businesses during his presentation.