ACE-FUELS Newsroom ā The Africa Centre of Excellence in Future Energies and Electrochemical Systems (ACE-FUELS) at FUTO is harnessing new opportunities through the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) and Chongqing University (CQU), China.
This milestone agreement, established under the China-Africa 100 Universities Cooperation Plan, lays the foundation for groundbreaking collaboration in sustainable energy, advanced materials, and mining technologiesādirectly supporting ACE-FUELSā mission to catalyze Africaās clean energy transformation.
During his recent visit to CQU, Professor Emeka Oguzie, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Development and Innovation) and ACE-FUELS Centre Leader, met with Professor Chun Yang, Director of the Office of International Affairs, and Associate Professor Li Liu, Vice Dean of the School of Resource and Safety Engineering. The discussions explored pathways for ACE-FUELS to implement transformative initiatives under the broader FUTO-CQU partnership.
āCritical minerals are the backbone of renewable energy,ā Professor Oguzie emphasized. āACE-FUELS is strategically leveraging the FUTO-CQU partnership to bridge future energy research with sustainable mining solutionsādriving innovation and capacity building across Africa.ā
š ACE-FUELS Initiatives Under the FUTO-CQU MoU
š¹ Joint Masterās Programme
ACE-FUELS is developing a Joint Masterās Programme that integrates its expertise in future energies with CQUās world-class mining and environmental engineering strengths. This interdisciplinary course will equip graduates to lead the continentās critical minerals supply chain and renewable energy sectors.
š¹ Advanced Energy Technologies
Through collaboration with CQU, ACE-FUELS plans to pioneer Africaās first sodium-ion battery pilot plant and explore solid-state battery technologies that power electric mobility and grid storage.
š¹ Mining Engineering and Critical Minerals
ACE-FUELS will collaborate on sustainable mining engineering solutions that promote responsible critical mineral extraction. This includes working with CQU to launch a mining engineering programme at FUTO to empower Nigeriaās growing mining industry.
š¹ Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU)
ACE-FUELS aims to integrate cutting-edge COā utilization technologies such as formic acid production and conversion into hydrogen fuels, into Africaās decarbonization pathways.
š¹ Perovskite Solar Cells
With plans for a pilot production line, ACE-FUELS will collaborate with CQU to develop high-efficiency perovskite solar modules tailored to tropical climatesāenhancing off-grid and agrivoltaic solutions.
š Strategic Alignment
These initiatives support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 7, 9, and 13), the African Unionās Agenda 2063, and Chinaās Belt and Road Initiativeāpositioning ACE-FUELS at the forefront of Africaās sustainable energy revolution.
š Next Steps
ACE-FUELS is establishing joint research taskforces, pursuing funding opportunities through the AU-China Cooperation Fund, and setting up collaborative laboratories in Nigeria and China. This transformative partnership empowers ACE-FUELS to lead Africaās clean energy revolutionātraining tomorrowās leaders and building sustainable energy solutions for all.
Stay tuned as ACE-FUELS continues to break new ground in clean energy, critical minerals, and sustainable development!
