Junk status In Ghana, a 400 KW hybrid waste-to-energy plant is in the works. Through a EUR6 million grant from Germany, the pilot plant will be built in the Ashanti region, according to Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation. The plant will treat solid waste and generate power through solar PV, biogas and pyrolysis (decomposition brought about by high temperatures). This, says German Minister of Education and Research Anja Karliczek, would see some of the 12 000 tons of waste generated in Ghana daily put to good use, while creating employment opportunities. And if successful, 10 or more plants are expected to be built within the next two decades in various parts of Ghana. The project, which involves high-level R&D, is to be conducted by research and industrial partners – including universities – from both Ghana and Germany. 4 February 2020 Image: Gallo/Getty Images