REHEATZ Advances to Prize Phase
On July 22nd, Science Foundation Ireland and Irish Aid announced that REHEATZ, along with the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland SURGWater project, would advance to the Prize Phase of the SDG 13 Challenge. Over the next two years, REHEATZ will receive €650,000 to continue our research in Zambia.
This work comes at a critical time for the Zambian food and beverage sector. Amidst an ongoing national energy crisis and severe drought, Derrick Bwalya (REHEATZ, SAIPAR) is confident that REHEATZ “will play a pivotal role in helping food and beverage production companies to reduce the cost of production”. This was seconded in a celebratory message from our primary partner, Zambeef Products PLC, who congratulated us on our “remarkable efforts to enhance the economic and environmental sustainability of food production in Zambia”.
The judging panel was impressed by our experienced and motivated team and commended us on developing a realistic set of goals for the future. Looking forward, we plan to fully integrate our system at Zambeef, expand our social impacts through a partnership with Build-It International, and ultimately establish a more permanent presence in Zambia. REHEATZ and Trinity College Dublin team member Madhu K. Murali described the work as “challenging, interesting, and immensely rewarding”, and that he hopes to “leave a lasting REHEATZ legacy of increased efficiency and reduced carbon emissions in Zambian manufacturing”.
Speaking about the transition between Seed and Prize Phases, Godfrey Hampwye (REHEATZ, SAIPAR) acknowledged the “minimal transfer of skills and social impacts on the community [in the Seed Phase] owing principally to the limited duration of the project. However, the expectations in the prize phase are to increase skills transfer and enhance social impacts among the communities.”
Prof. Aonghus McNabola during a site visit in April. REHEATZ will continue to work with Zambian manufacturers to identify opportunities for waste heat recovery.
Eleanor Mancusi-Ungaro (REHEATZ, TCD) also highlighted the importance of continuing the REHEATZ work. “I hope we can work with the Ministry of Green Economy and the Environment to strengthen our connections in Zambia and continue this work after 2026.”
We are excited to take on the new challenges associated with the next two years of our project and look forward to providing new updates soon! You can read more about the SDG 13 Challenge here.
Dr. Madhu Murali demonstrating the pilot heat recovery system at Zambeef Huntley Farm.