By Benjamin Adamafio Commey, GNA
Gomoa Fetteh (C/R), Oct. 29, GNA – Researchers under a project called Lasers4NetZero are developing advanced laser technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) systems, to reduce manufacturing emissions, material waste and production costs associated with Electric Vehicles (EVs).
The four-year European Union-funded (EU) initiative focuses on improving the manufacturing of EV batteries and fuel cells through laser-based cutting and welding, advanced process simulation and intelligent quality-control systems.
The project seeks to address inefficiencies in conventional manufacturing, including excessive energy consumption, poor material utilisation and defective components, which contribute to the environmental footprint and high production costs of EVs.
Its researchers are integrating laser technologies, including advanced beam shaping and ultra-fast scanning systems with AI, to improve manufacturing precision, reduce waste and enhance the quality of components.
A laser is a concentrated beam of light that delivers energy precisely to a material, allowing it to be cut or joined with greater control.
The project also aims to train doctoral researchers in laser material processing, AI-based quality control, process simulation and lifecycle sustainability assessment, while strengthening collaboration between universities and industry.
In a media interview on the sidelines of a dissemination conference at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region, Professor Alessandro Fortunato from the University of Bologna, Italy, who is the Project Coordinator, said approximately 30 per cent of EV-related emissions could be associated with manufacturing processes, making improvements in production efficiency essential to achieving greener mobility.
He said the Laser4NetZero project would among other things, investigate ways to reduce energy consumption and production costs, while improving the quality of batteries and fuel cells.
Prof. Fortunato identified electrode drying during battery production, as a major energy-consuming process traditionally carried out using industrial ovens.
“If you replace ovens with lasers, probably you can be more efficient and faster,” he said, explaining that researchers were examining alternatives to conventional drying methods, to reduce energy consumption and manufacturing time.
He said another important research area the project was looking at was real-time monitoring and control of welding, which could enable manufacturers to detect irregularities and correct them before defective components were produced.
Prof. Fortunato explained that AI systems, particularly neural networks trained using images of welding operations, could identify defects and help determine when adjustments were necessary.
The ultimate goal was to improve production speed and quality while reducing costs, potentially making EVs more affordable and accessible, he said.
The project is being undertaken by a consortium which brings together six academic institutions and eight industrial partners across Europe and Africa, including the University of Bologna, the University of Warwick, Luleå University of Technology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, and the Pentecost University.
It is also assessing the sustainability of batteries and fuel cells throughout their lifecycles, including opportunities to recover valuable raw materials and reuse batteries after they are no longer suitable for vehicle applications.
With an EU contribution of approximately €2.6 million, the project runs from January 2024 to December 2027 and is expected to validate its research through demonstrators for fuel-cell components and battery systems.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen cooperation between academia and industry, while equipping a new generation of engineers with the skills needed to advance cleaner, more efficient and sustainable manufacturing technologies.
Reverend Professor Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua, the Vice-Chancellor of the Pentecost University, said the Lasers4NetZero project, was creating opportunities for the university to expose students to emerging technologies and equip them with the practical skills needed to contribute to Ghana’s industrial development.
He said the project was important because engineering education needed to evolve alongside changes in the global automotive industry, where EVs and advanced manufacturing technologies were becoming increasingly significant.
“Every student at Pentecost University is privileged,” explaining that students studying mechanical, manufacturing and automobile engineering were being introduced to EV technology, beyond the conventional focus on petrol and diesel engines.
The exposure would help prepare students for emerging opportunities in the automotive and manufacturing industries, positioning them to contribute to the country’s technological advancement.
Prof. Agyapong-Kodua said the University was also taking practical steps to strengthen its capacity to train students in advanced technologies, through the establishment of an engineering village dedicated to modern engineering and industrial innovation.
He said the facility, being developed with support from the Facility Investing for Employment (IFE), KfW Development Bank and The Church of Pentecost, was expected to be completed by July 2027.
“We are going to have another centre at Oyibi, to be completed by July 2027, and it is dedicated towards new technology,” he said.
He said the facility, would expose students to the principles and applications of Industry 4.0 and 5.0 respectively, helping them acquire the technical knowledge and practical competencies required to work with advanced manufacturing systems.
The Vice-Chancellor said the initiative reflected the University’s ambition to move beyond teaching students how to use existing technologies, to developing their capacity to design, produce and improve technologies locally.
Prof Agyapong-Kodua said the University also intended to use its participation in international research collaborations, including Lasers4NetZero, to help bridge the technological gap by combining local capacity development with knowledge and expertise from leading international institutions.
He said the benefits of the project extended beyond the University, to helping Ghana develop the skills needed to actively participate in emerging industries.
It would help prepare a new generation of engineers to develop technologies suited to the country’s industrial needs.
Apostle Prof. Joseph Buertey, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Science and Computing at the Pentecost University, said the initiative would also expose African students and researchers to emerging technologies through knowledge transfer, research collaboration and academic exchanges.
“We are learning from universities in Sweden and the UK about advances in technology and their approaches to research and studies. Through this collaboration, we can transfer knowledge to Ghana and Botswana, facilitate academic exchanges and provide students with cross-institutional supervision to strengthen their research capabilities,” he said.
He said it was provided an opportunity for undergraduate students to learn about emerging technologies such as laser welding and cutting, preparing them for the technological advancements shaping the future.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo
Reporter: Benjamin Adamafio Commey
Email: [email protected]