All of the articles in this proceedings volume have been presented at the International Symposium on African Sustainable Energy Solutions (AfriSusEnS), during August 25th to 28th, 2024 in Sun City, South Africa. These articles have been peer reviewed by the members of the Scientific Committee and approved...

This paper presents a stepwise guide for implementing temperature proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control on a customized model using a Siemens S7-1214C DC/DC/DC programmable logic controllers (PLC) workstation. The customized trainer includes an aluminium block, heating element, RTD PT-100 sensor,...

Cobalt is one of the most common catalysts used in the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process and the primary catalyst investigated in this study. Machine learning (ML) was used to analyze the variables that affect the FT process. This study investigates how surface area impacts CO adsorption and hydrocarbon product...

The integration of hydrogen (H₂) into the Coal-to-Liquids (CTL) process offers a promising strategy to convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions into valuable synthetic crude (syncrude), thereby reducing the overall carbon footprint of CTL operations. This study presents a high level economic analysis to...

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) is a reaction of methane and carbon dioxide to produce synthesis gas (syngas), a hydrogen and carbon monoxide (H2/CO) mixture, which can have applications in the petrochemicals sector. While DRM is topical at face value, it does produce a syngas with a low H2/CO ratio not...

Carbon dioxide conversion is considered a promising solution to the problem of global warming and the need for renewable energy storage. Although it is challenging to develop a process that combines the complete conversion of CO2 to CO in the absence of O2, this paper describes such a solution. In this...

The separation of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere using direct air capture (DAC) technology is a key step toward sustainable methanol production. The minimum theoretical work (MTW) required for CO2 separation is set by thermodynamics, however the actual energy consumption is significantly higher...

Hydrogen fuel is one of the most ecological. However, its storage and transport still pose a challenge to the modern industry. This paper presents the use of ammonia as a liquid hydrogen carrier. It has been proven that it is possible to obtain green hydrogen in the splitting process conducted in non-thermal...

Gasification is an attractive valorization option because it can convert plastic waste into valuable products such as syngas. If the syngas meets certain specifications, it can be used to produce fuel, chemicals, and electricity. Additionally, plastic waste is rich in carbon and hydrogen, both essential...

Sustainable energy projects are essential for Africa. They offer energy solutions while being environmentally responsible. This review paper shows Africa’s growth through renewable energy. Cleaner energy is guided by renewable energy sources. A look into Africa’s renewable energy sector shows innovation...

This study employed a process targeting technique to evaluate thermodynamic, environmental and economic feasibility of the synthesis of methanol and acetic acid (AA) from waste tyres and forestry waste (pinewood waste). The results revealed that the synthesis of methanol from waste tyres and pine wood...

The design of torrefaction processes for biomass conversion are examined in this research, with a focus on the potential of this process as a sustainable energy source in Botswana. Torrefaction is a thermal treatment process that improves properties of raw biomass for use as a biofuel or for co-feeding...

Botswana is a semi-arid country hence encourages the growth and propagation of various vegetation including family Leguminosae (Fabaceae) such as Prosopis mesquite which was initially introduced in Botswana to combat desertification and provide fodder but has however become a problematic specie which...

This study investigates torrefaction as a biomass valorization approach and its potential to offer green solutions, and studies Prosopis mesquite, an invasive species that has caused ecological and socio-economic problems in Botswana. The reason torrefaction is considered good is because it can turn...

In the growing interest of creating novel technologies to combat the rise of CO2 in the atmosphere, zeolites have emerged as a sustainable solution for carbon sequestration. Zeolites are aluminosilicate-based material that are highly porous, low cost, and highly stable. This research focuses on the production...

Ammonia production is a process critical to modern-day society. It is a main ingredient of the fertilizers that allow the amount of food necessary for the world’s population. The Haber-Bosch process is the primary process used for ammonia synthesis, but it is energy intensive. An example of an electrified...

Tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) is a tetracycline antibiotic characterized by a complex structure, prolonged persistence, and widespread environmental contamination. To address this, BiVO4 and CeO2 composite photocatalysts (BVC) were synthesized via high-temperature hydrothermal method for the degradation...

Ag3PO4 is a photocatalytic material with visible light response, which has a broad application prospect in environmental treatment. However, due to its susceptibility to photocorrosion, high cost and secondary pollution in water, it is limited to some extent. Therefore, we combined Ag3PO4 photocatalyst...

NiO is a potentially electroactive material for energy storage applications. However, its poor electrical conductivity and low ionic transport properties have restricted its potential for supercapacitor applications. To overcome the problems doping with metal elements and making RGO composite is a possible...

Titanate anode materials have emerged as a focal point of research in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) due to their high adaptability to diverse fuel gases. To further enhance their performance, we propose an impregnation strategy to create a composite electrode by applying a gadolinium-doped cerium oxide...

Lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs) are promising candidates for next-generation energy storage systems due to their high theoretical energy density. However, several challenges currently hinder the practical implementation of these batteries, and addressing these challenges requires the use of innovative...

Li-Fi, also known as light fidelity, is the new and innovative internet that uses the speed of light. It allows us to connect to the internet using LED lights from lamps, streetlights, or television. It has become, without question, one of the most widespread technologies. The various use of Li-Fi technologies...

The construction of heterojunctions is widely regarded as one of the most effective strategies for suppressing charge recombination, extending the light absorption range of a single photocatalyst, and significantly enhancing hydrogen production through photocatalytic water splitting. Herein, we explore...