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2025 African Conference on Fundamental Physics and Applications

13-20 September 2025, Lome, Togo

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Joseph Asare

Department of Physics

University of Ghana

2025 African Conference on Fundamental Physics and Applications

13-20 September 2025, Lome, Togo

RENEWABLE ENERGIES AND RELATED APPLICATIONS

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Outline

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Motivation

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Background

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Renewable Energies

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Applications

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First Principles to FEA/FEM

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Summary

2025 African Conference on Fundamental Physics and Applications

13-20 September 2025, Lome, Togo

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The Gate Way to Africa

West Africa

GHANA

2025 African Conference on Fundamental Physics and Applications

13-20 September 2025, Lome, Togo

2012 African School of Fundamental Physics and its Applications

KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana

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Motivation

Education

GHANA

2025 African Conference on Fundamental Physics and Applications

13-20 September 2025, Lome, Togo

BSc Physics, University of Cape Coast, Ghana

MSc Theoretical Physics, African University of Science and Technology, Nigeria

VSRC, Princeton University, New Jersey, USA

PhD Theoretical and Applied Physics, African University of Science and Technology, Nigeria

Visiting Scholar, Arizona State University, USA

Joined the Department of Physics, University of Ghana (UG), Accra, Ghana

2009

2011

2012

9/17/2025

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2019

2017

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Department of Physics

College of Basic and Applied Sciences

University of Ghana

School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Founded in 1948

UG

https://www.ug.edu.gh/

https://bit.ly/UG_Physics_Insight_2023

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13-20 September 2025, Lome, Togo

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Background

2025 African Conference on Fundamental Physics and Applications

13-20 September 2025, Lome, Togo

15 TW (Global Consumption)

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Renewable energy is critical to combating climate change and promoting sustainable development.

In 2025, major innovations are making renewable energy more efficient and integrative.

This presentation covers cutting-edge advances in solar technology, green hydrogen, energy storage, offshore wind, exploring their applications and impact on energy systems.

Now, let’s shift our focus to Rwanda, the inspiring host of this conference. If you’ve ever seen a 'World at Night' satellite image, you know the striking disparity in light across regions. In 2014, Rwanda took a bold step toward changing that narrative by launching its largest solar farm, an 8.5 MW facility near Kigali. This initiative didn’t just light up homes; it illuminated a pathway for sustainable development. Rwanda’s commitment to harnessing solar energy underscores how transformative science and technology can be, even in addressing challenges as fundamental as energy access.

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Renewable Energies

2025 African Conference on Fundamental Physics and Applications

13-20 September 2025, Lome, Togo

4.6 TW is the gross Hydroelectric energy available

Ref: Adam Nieman (www.sciencephoto.com), NREL, Nate Lewis (Caltech), Chris Somerville (UC Berkeley)

A. Shakouri, UCSB. “Overview of Renewable Energy Sources”, Res. Lab., March 25, 2009

Ref: Prof Dieter Meissner and John Perlin

M. I. Hoffert et. Al. : ‘Energy implications of future atmospheric stability of CO₂”

15 TW (Global Consumption)

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Renewable Energies

2025 African Conference on Fundamental Physics and Applications

13-20 September 2025, Lome, Togo

Total geothermal energy available

Ref: Adam Nieman (www.sciencephoto.com), NREL, Nate Lewis (Caltech), Chris Somerville (UC Berkeley)

A. Shakouri, UCSB. “Overview of Renewable Energy Sources”, Res. Lab., March 25, 2009

Ref: Prof Dieter Meissner and John Perlin

M. I. Hoffert et. Al. : ‘Energy implications of future atmospheric stability of CO₂”

32 TW (Geothermal)

15 TW (Global Consumption)

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Renewable Energies

2025 African Conference on Fundamental Physics and Applications

13-20 September 2025, Lome, Togo

Add wind

Out of the 870 TW of wind, only the extractable part is 2-4 TW.

32 TW (Geothermal)

15 TW (Global Consumption)

870 TW (Wind)

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Applications

2025 African Conference on Fundamental Physics and Applications

13-20 September 2025, Lome, Togo

Only a fraction

can be harnessed

@%5 PCE ~4,300 TW

1839-Edmond Becquerel

1907-Frank Shuman; Solar Pump Invention

1970- Father Verspieren

And finally solar

Ref: Prof Dieter Meissner and John Perlin

M. I. Hoffert et. Al. : ‘Energy implications of future atmospheric stability of CO₂”

In one hour, the sun provides 14-15 TW of energy

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2025 African Conference on Fundamental Physics and Applications

13-20 September 2025, Lome, Togo

Rigid substrates are stiff, hard and inflexible materials on which electronic devices are applied. They are used in applications where flexibility is not a requirement (e.g. silicon, glass and metal)

Applications

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Role of Cu-doped NiO as a hole transport layer (HTL) for improved performance in flexible PVs

2025 African Conference on Fundamental Physics and Applications

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Applications

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First Principles to FEA/FEM

Flexible organic-inorganic photovoltaics are cost-effective and offer impressive optoelectronic properties.

PROBLEM

Key Objectives:

Assess electronic properties of Cu:NiO using density functional theory (DFT)
Simulate electrical with SCAPS-1D and mechanical performance using Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
Compare device efficiencies with different active layers and HTL configurations

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Crystal structure of NiO

Crystal structure of Cu:NiO

Marley et al., Energies, 17(16), 4064, 2024

FIRST-PRINCIPLES STUDY

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Band structure of (a) NiO, (b) stable Cu:NiO, and (c) unstable Cu:NiO with energies relative to the Fermi level

Cu:NiO achieves a direct band gap of 1.65 eV, reducing from NiO’s 3.04 eV.
Doping introduces additional valence band states, enhancing hole conductivity.

Marley et al., Energies, 17(16), 4064, 2024

Density of state of (a) NiO, (b) stable Cu:NiO, and (c) unstable Cu:NiO with energies relative to the Fermi level

FIRST-PRINCIPLES STUDY

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Stress distribution from tensile three-point bend test for (a) PEDOT:PSS on PET and (b) CuNiO on PET

Key Insights:

- Cu:NiO layers exhibit cracking under tensile stress

- PEDOT:PSS layers demonstrate better strain tolerance, suitable for flexible applications

Stress distribution from compressive three-point bend test for (a) PEDOT:PSS on PET and (b) CuNiO on PET

FINITE ELEMENT SIMULATION

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J–V characteristics of different composite HTLs with (a) a fullerene blend active layer and (b) a perovskite active layer.

Schematic diagram of flexible PV devices

Fullerene (P3HT/PCBM):

- Cu:NiO (stable) HTL achieves 9.75% efficiency

Perovskite:

- Cu:NiO (stable) HTL reaches 18.37% efficiency

DIODE CHARACTERISTICS

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CONCLUSION

Cu:NiO is a promising HTL for high-efficiency flexible PVs.
Pair Cu:NiO with perovskite active layers for optimal performance.
Renewables are the cornerstone of sustainable development
Interdisciplinary collaboration is a key path toward a resilient, equitable, low-carbon energy future

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ACP2025 Oganizers
UNESCO-TWAS and the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency (Sida)
Research and Innovation Directorate (RID), University of Ghana (UG)
University of Ghana Building a New Generation of Academics in Africa (BANGA-Africa)
Snaith group, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, UK
Colleagues, Department of Physics, University of Ghana

Terry Alford,

ASU, USA

Wole Soboyejo,

SUNY Polytechnic Institute, USA

Henry Snaith,

University of Oxford, UK

Nicola Seriani,

ICTP, Italy

2025 African Conference on Fundamental Physics and Applications

13-20 September 2025, Lome, Togo

Kétévi Adiklè Assamagan

BNL, USA

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THANK YOU!

MERCI!

Phone

+233 50 945 38 98

E-mail

josephasare@ug.edu.gh

https://www.ug.edu.gh/physics/people/dr-joseph-asare

Website

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Any Questions?

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