research project KijaniBox
Research project KijaniBox
KijaniBox is an EU-funded consortium project that aims to improve the cold chain infrastructure in Africa. The use of decentralized biogas plants is intended to generate renewable energy and thus reduce the amount of food waste caused by inadequate refrigeration directly at the point of origin. In this way, the project promotes sustainable economic growth and jobs both in African countries and in Europe.
| Partner: | Politecnico di Milano (IT) Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, L’Energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenible (IT) Waziup e.V. (DE) Inneurope Initiatives S.L. (ES) Escola Superior de Comerc Internacional (ES) Innotec21 GmbH (DE) Africa Bioenergy Programs Limited (KE) Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (KE) Solar Freeze Limited (KE) Ecoh Holdings Limited (KE) Biogas Solutions Uganda Limited by Guarantee (UG) National Agricultural Research Organisation (UG) Universite Gaston Berger de Saint Louis (SN) |
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Funding: |
EU project within the framework of HORIZON EUROPE |
| Duration: |
September 2024 – August 2028 |
| Contact: | Maximilian Barth M.Sc. Philipp Witkabel M.Sc. Dipl.-Ing. Pascal Otto |
Project description
The KijaniBox project provides small and medium-sized enterprises along the food supply chain with access to renewable energy. The primary goal is to recycle biological waste, which is converted into energy on site for use in refrigeration and freezing applications. In this way, food losses are reduced and hygienic risk factors minimized.
The research concept is being tested at two real and other virtual pilot sites in close cooperation with local waste management companies, players in the food value chain and refrigeration technology companies. The following approaches, also known as “Green Transition Enablers”, will be implemented: i) the KijaniBox system, a pilot-scale off-grid waste-to-cooling system, ii) “Application Solution Boxes” (ASB), application-specific KijaniBox solutions for the real pilot sites, iii) the “Co-Creation Factory”, integration and promotion of local manufacturing companies, iv) “Business-in-a-Box”, a comprehensive toolkit for entrepreneurs and stakeholders that ensures the successful introduction and marketing of the solution. The consortium consists of 14 project partners, 7 European and 7 African, from six different countries. The overarching goal of the KijaniBox project is to promote long-term and sustainable economic growth and the creation of new jobs in Africa and Europe.