The World Academy of Science (TWAS) in Italy and the African Academy of Science, have given the Federal University Dutse over N200 million research grant to carry out research on hydrogen (solar fuel) through splitting of water as an alternative to fossil fuel(petroleum) in Nigeria.
The World Academy of Science gave the university $59,930 (N42,849,950 million) while the African Academy of Science gave the university €220,801(N157,872,715 million)which amounts to N200,722,66 million
The lead researcher Dr. Hafeez Yusuf Hafeez of the Physics Department, Federal University Dutse said the research proposal that won the TWAS award is titled ” Development of Efficient and Robust graphene based photocatalysis for the production of solar fuel(hydrogen) via photocatalic water splitting) while the title of the proposal that won the AAS award is “Development of Efficient and Robust myxine based photocatalysis for the production of solar fuel(hydrogen) via photocatalic water splitting”
Dr. Hafeez said four MSc students will be trained under the TWAS research grant,while six MSc students and two PhD students will be trained under the AAS grant.
He said he was motivated to carry out the research into this new area because of Nigeria’s over dependence on fossil fuel(petroleum) even though there is abundance of solar light and water in country adding that this research is an extension of his Ph.D work in India which the Indian government are now exploring at the commercial level.
He said the world is now moving towards hydrogen energy due to its high combustion, zero emissions and it has the highest energy content (~150 kJ/Kg) compared to others such as petroleum, diesel etc..
He also said that it is the cheapest source of energy because it requires only water, solar light and suitable photocatalyst.
He added that Nigeria will be the first country in Africa that will explore hydrogen energy as alternative source of energy and FUD will be the pioneer Centre of Hydrogen Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa and Africa at large
Dr. Hafeez said G- 7 countries are leading in hydrogen energy especially USA, Japan, Germany, Canada, UK adding that USA, Japan and France have launched hydrogen trains and cars recently while Germany and Canada are generating their electricity via hydrogen energy.
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The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdul Kareem Sabo Mohammad,who congratulated Dr. Hafeez and his team for their pioneering research on hydrogen energy in the country, expressed the readiness of the institution to support its staff at all time to engage in research that will benefit the host community and the country .
