The total waste generated in Africa has the potential to produce up to 122.2 TWh of electricity in 2025, according to a study co-authored by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), SeeNews Renewables reported.

This is more than 20% of Africa’s electricity consumption of 661.5 TWh in 2010 and would be enough to meet the energy needs of 40m local households in 2025.

In Africa, where many people do not have access to energy, urban waste can be a valuable source of electricity, the European Commission’s in-house science service said on Monday. Energy recovered from waste could also help minimise the impact of municipal solid waste on the environment.