Aftrak

Green energy for Africa supported by micro electric agriculture

Funding: Innovate UK

Duration: April 2023 – April 2024

Project partners: Consortium for Battery Innovation, Loughborough University, Tiyeni

Aftrak aims to develop a green electricity solution for rural communities combining a solar energy microgrid with a micro electric tractor to mechanise land preparation. Advanced lead batteries inbuilt in the micro electric tractor play a central role in this green energy system, storing solar energy and providing it during land preparation activities. 

The micro electric tractor also aids the implementation of Deep Bed Farming, an agricultural methodology especially designed for Malawian soils developed by project partner Tiyeni. This system can provide a significant agricultural revenue boost to sustain microgrid-related costs and encourage further energy access investments.  

The project reached the final of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Green Energy, and an extra field demonstration of the system will be carried out South Africa. 

For more information visit project's website: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/aftrak/