Off-Grid Renewable Energy Production and Storage with Organic Rankine Cycle, Solar and Waste (RESORCS)

Partners: Fetu

Country: Sri Lanka

Technology: Other energy access technology

Stage: Mid

Stage: Round 10

According to the International Energy Agency, around four percent of the world electricity supply comes from solar electric cells. Solar energy is abundantly available in South Asia and in sub Saharan Africa but is not harnessed to it’s full potential. The RESORCS project aims to harness abundant solar energy in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa by designing an off-grid renewable energy system. Unlike conventional solar electric cells, RESORCS features a concentrated solar collector to efficiently collect thermal energy. This collected energy powers a high-output Rankine engine, the FeTu turbine, augmented by waste combustion and bio-gas generation. The hybrid system stores thermal energy in a reservoir, enabling electricity generation for direct use, grid connection, or storage. The Energy Catalyst supported project targets optimal efficiency, eco-friendly materials, and sustainable applications, fostering clean energy adoption in households or small-scale enterprises. Key objectives include concentrated solar collector optimisation, thermal storage development, turbine generator design, waste combustion integration, system prototyping, and impact assessment.