How food waste is purifying water in Freetown Sierra Leone

Freetown Market, where one of our biodigesters is located in

The ENERGICA project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program, aims to implement sustainable solutions and technologies. With a focus on research, development and implementation, The Waste Transformers work together in a consortium to provide a holistic solution around food waste, clean energy and producing freshwater in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Freetown is selected to demonstrate the technologies, and recently the consortium came together in Freetown. Colleagues Yan and Hugo had a great conversation about the project. Hugo, our Senior Business Developer at The Waste Transformers is overseeing this project.

Yan: What is your specific role within this project? 

Hugo took the consortium on a tour to one of our operating biodigesters in Freetown

Hugo: I am the Project Manager, responsible for overseeing all aspects of the project on behalf of The Waste Transformers, ensuring coordination between different companies involved, and ensuring the project milestones are met. 

Yan: What was the purpose of your trip to Freetown and what activities did you undertake? 

Hugo: The consortium meets several times during the project. In June we met in Freetown. This allowed everyone to see with their own eyes where the project will be running. Our partner the Freetown Waste Transformers hosted the ENERGICA consortium and on the final day I took the consortium on a tour to one of our operating biodigesters in Freetown. This Waste Transformer is already running in Freetown to divert food waste from landfill, to create energy and natural fertilizer from that food waste. It is always good to meet face to face and experience the environment with your own eyes and most of the people never visited Freetown before. 

Yan: Could you provide more details on the biodigester? How does it operate? And how is this linked to the water purification technology? 

Hugo: A Waste Transformer is a containerized biodigester that converts food waste on-site into biogas or electricity and heat and natural liquid fertilizer. The electricity generated with the food waste will be used to power a water purification system. The integrated water purification system, managed by a Spanish company part of the consortium, will use surface water and clean it to potable standards. This synergy will significantly impact the local community by providing clean water and green energy.

Overview of the ENERGICA project (Source: Energica)

Hugo and Musa, our colleague in South Africa

Yan: What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced, and how did you address it? 

Hugo: The biggest challenge has been coordinating the various international companies and people involved in the project. It’s a complex, interconnected effort that requires detailed understanding and collaboration. Face-to-face meetings have been crucial, as they allow for informal conversations and better relationship-building, which helps in aligning our goals and resolving issues more effectively. 

Yan: What aspect of working on this project have you enjoyed the most? 

Hugo: Our immediate goal is to successfully implement and test the ENERGICA Waste Transformer and water purification system in Freetown. Over the next year, we aim to collect data and demonstrate the interconnectedness between these technologies, which will pave the way for replicating the system and expanding our impact across the region. 

Yan: What are the main objectives for this project, and do you have a specific timeline for achieving them? 

Hugo: We have already placed  a Waste Transformer next to a female hospital in Freetown, followed by the second Waste Transformer operating at a market in another part of the city. Our immediate goal is to successfully implement the ENERGICA Waste Transformer and water purification system in Freetown. Over the next year, we aim to demonstrate the interconnectedness between these technologies, which will pave the way for replicating the system and expanding our impact across the region. 

Group photo

More about the project

The ENERGICA project, funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 program, promotes innovative energy solutions in Sierra Leone, Kenya, and Madagascar. In Freetown, it features our Waste Transformer biodigester and a water purification system that uses the produced energy out of digested food waste. It addresses critical local needs in food waste management and potable water supply.

This project not only introduces European innovations adapted to local African contexts but also promotes significant socio-economic impacts through community involvement and co-design processes. Replication of the Waste Transformer increase waste treatment capacity, purifies 200 to 300 litres of water per day, creates local jobs in the waste management sector, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions with the implemented technologies.

Scalable models:

ENERGICA exemplifies a scalable model for sustainable development in peri-urban and rural areas. Its collaborative approach with local and international partners ensures that the project delivers long-term benefits, enhancing energy access and supporting local economies. ENERGICA is set to make a lasting positive impact on the communities it serves. 

About The Waste Transformers: The Waste Transformers is a Dutch cleantech pioneer, providing on-site innovative technologies to transform unavoidable food waste into sustainable energy and natural fertilisers, enabling local positive change.

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