Ain Shams and Arizona State Researchers Join Forces to Turn Waste into Energy for Egypt
As Egypt grapples with mounting energy demands from its growing population of 110 million residents, innovative research funded through the USAID Center of Excellence for Energy, or COE/E, is catalyzing the nation’s transition to renewable, sustainable energy. Through collaboration with Arizona State University scientists, researchers at Ain Shams University are developing waste-to-energy technologies to support Egypt’s goal of 42% renewable energy by 2035. Dr. Sherien Elagroudy, professor of environmental engineering and director of Egypt’s Solid Waste Management Center of Excellence, is leading the COE/E-supported joint research project to transform the country’s waste management challenges into sustainable energy opportunities.
“The demand for energy is increasing with Egypt’s economic growth,” says Elagroudy. “We have been depending on fossil fuels, which is causing environmental pollution.” She notes that while Egypt currently generates about 8% of its electricity from renewable sources, the country harbors more ambitious targets. “The strategy was aiming at reaching 20 percent by 2022,” she explains, adding that longer-term goals include “a very ambitious plan to reach 42 percent by 2035 through the establishment of the nuclear power plant and green hydrogen.”
Elagroudy and her research team are exploring how waste-to-energy technologies can contribute to these renewable energy targets. They have spent years dedicated to researching methane and hydrogen production from solid waste. “Methane and hydrogen can produce electricity while reducing environmental impact,” Elagroudy believes. “It’s also a proper way of treating solid waste instead of landfilling or incineration, which causes environmental pollution.”
Elagroudy’s groundbreaking research project, titled “Enhanced Renewable-Energy Production from Co-digestion of Waste Biomass and Sewage Sludge Based on Bio-economic Prospects,” is a dynamic partnership between Egyptian and U.S. institutions that exemplifies an innovative approach to Egypt’s dual challenges of waste management and energy production. “We are trying to develop design criteria for anaerobic digestion coupled with microbial electrolysis cells to enhance hydrogen production as a clean and efficient source of energy,” Elagroudy explains. “We hope this can be commercialized and applied on a full scale.”
At the heart of this initiative is the transfer of specialized knowledge from Arizona State University. During a visit to ASU, Elagroudy’s project Co-Principal Investigator, or PI, Khaled Kirah, professor of engineering physics at Ain Shams University, received comprehensive guidance on microbial electrolysis cell, or MEC, manufacturing processes from U.S. Co-PI César Torres, professor of chemical engineering at ASU. Torres, a leading expert in microbial electrochemistry for energy production, shared insights drawn from his pioneering work at the Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology.
International collaboration plays a crucial role in advancing these solutions. “You won’t be able to solve global problems if you’re only working within your small community,” thinks Elagroudy. Her team collaborates with Mansoura University and Arizona State University, fostering knowledge exchange between Egyptian and American institutions.
The project is further strengthened by the involvement of Egyptian industrial partners. Engineering Tasks Group, ENTAG, a leader in solid waste treatment and disposal, and the Egyptian Company for Solid Waste Recycling, ECARU, an integrated waste management firm, bring valuable industry expertise to the table. Their collaboration ensures the initiative addresses real-world sustainability challenges while remaining rooted in practical implementation.
Looking ahead, Elagroudy envisions an expanded role for COE/E in shaping Egypt’s energy future. “I would be happy if the Center becomes really involved in forming Egypt’s energy strategy,” she says. “With the expertise of all those involved in Egypt and the United States, we can advise on solving the energy shortage Egypt is currently facing.”
For more information on the Joint Binational Research Program and other research activities, visit the Center of Excellence for Energy.