PRESENTATION_Launching of Innovation Sustainable Energy Transition (i-SET).pdf

The slide outlined the rationale for the i-SET thematic chair, proposed activities, and research agenda of the Chair.

1. NACETEM
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Launch of Innovation and Sustainable Energy Transition in Africa
(i-SET Africa) Research Coordination Area (RCA)
Maruf Sanni, MbeoOgeyaand AoduBabatunde
14th August, 2025

2. NACETEM
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NACETEM…Managing Technology for Sustainable Development
Presentation Outline
Introduction
Rationale for the thematic chair
Status of African research on the linkages between innovation and energy transition
Sustainable energy transition
Learning, Innovation and Competency building in Renewable Energy Deployment
A research agenda
Activities of the thematic chair

3. NACETEM
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NACETEM…Managing Technology for Sustainable Development
i-SET Africa Research Team
Dr. Maruf Sanni, Deputy Director, Research, NACETEM, Thematic Lead
MbeoOgeya, Senior Research Associate, World Resources Institute (WRI), Partner
Dr. AoduBabatunde,Research Officer, NACETEM, Partner

4. NACETEM
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NACETEM…Managing Technology for Sustainable Development
Introduction
A just and inclusive energy transition is increasingly recognized as crucial for achieving universal
access, energy security, and decarbonizing energy systems
It should address existing socio-economic and energy inequalitiesand protect jobs in high-
energy intensive sectors.
This issue is pressing in sub-Saharan Africa: Africa without access to electricity increased to over
590 million in 2020, representing nearly a 2% rise from 2019 partly due of COVID 19 pandemic
(Li et al., 1234; Cozziet al., 2020).

5. NACETEM
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NACETEM…Managing Technology for Sustainable Development
Introduction
Many African countries have come up with strategies and plans for just energy transitions,
incorporating these considerations into their climate action policies.
Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa: Just Energy Transition
Investment Plan (Blissett, 2023; Winkler et al., 2023)
These plans acknowledge the importance of technological innovation in energy transitions.
There is limited information on the specific energy technologies these countries plan to invest in
and how they assess the social, economic, and environmental impacts of these technologies.
More knowledge is needed on how specific energy technologies can drive transformative
changesto achieve just and inclusive energy transitions.

6. NACETEM
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NACETEM…Managing Technology for Sustainable Development
Rationale for the thematic chair
The continent faces significant ecological challenges such as deforestation, land degradation, and susceptibility to
climate change impacts
Research on innovative strategies for achieving a sustainable environment in Africa is imperative
A large segment of the population in Africa still lacks reliable and affordable energy services
Energy deficit hampers economic growthand promotes environmentally damaging practices
Africa heavily relies on imported energy technologies to build its energy infrastructure, despite possessing substantial
renewable energy potential (Lemaet al., 2021).
The issue has left Africa as, with nearly 600 million people lacking access to sustainable electricity the continent with
the lowest electrification rates
Absence of consideration for gender-specific energy needs hinders efforts to address energy insecurity

7. NACETEM
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NACETEM…Managing Technology for Sustainable Development
Status of African research on the linkages between innovation and energy transition
A review of 38 articles by Africa scholars on the subject of low carbon development, innovation and energy transition
shows the top 10 most important are energy, water, development, climate, change, environment, sustainability

8. NACETEM
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NACETEM…Managing Technology for Sustainable Development
Status of African research on the linkages between innovation and energy transition
Energy transition literature is built upon multi-dimensional perspectives across Africa in decentralized and centralized
systems, and household scale energy systems and mega power systems. It is dominated by authors from South
Africa
Inspiteof Africa being renewable energy resource rich, transitions to low carbon technologies such as renewable
energy often faced barriers such as inadequate finances, weak institutions(Olaniyi& Odhiambo, 2024) and lack of
capacity.

9. NACETEM
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NACETEM…Managing Technology for Sustainable Development
Learning, Innovation and Competency building in Renewable Energy Deployment
Learning, innovation and competency building are undeniable requirements for technological deployment in Africa
Low technological capability of project managers led to the abandonment of many solar PV systems (Murphy, 2001)
Innovation and Renewable Electrification in Kenya (IREK) book is a comprehensive literature on learning, innovation
and competency building for sustainable industrialization in Africa, exemplified in the Kenya case study.
Key learning points including, capabilities for renewable electrification (Nzila& Korir, 2022), interactive learning and
capability building (Hanlin& Okemwa, 2022) and interactive learning space (Gregersen& Gregersen, 2022).
There are low or no capacities and capability in manufacture of renewable energy technologies (small hydro, wind,
solar, geothermal and biogas and hybrid) but high capability in deployment and use, especially for solar PV.
A single case study, presenting limited projects in a single country across the continent thus needing further
research.

10. NACETEM
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Research Agenda for the Sustainable Just Energy Transition Thematic Chair
Capacities and capabilities building in renewable energy deployment across Africa
Measurement and indicators of capabilities
Local contents
Interactive learning spaces in renewable energy technology deployment, energy transition and niche innovations in
Sub-Saharan Africa
Evidence across Africa: deliberate policy driven or opportunistic
Interactive learning and competency building in major Africa initiatives
Interactive learning and competency building in small scale energy systems
Digital competencies in changing labor market in green transition
Gender, as a socio-cultural factor in the energy innovation process

11. NACETEM
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NACETEM…Managing Technology for Sustainable Development
i-SET Africa Research Activities
Special session presentation at the 6th AfricaLicsInternational Conference held at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Responded to a call for proposal on biodiversity and climate change
Submitted a proposal for the Globelicsconference in South Africa
Working to form a consortium for The Africa Think Tank Platform. An initiative of the African Union.
Working on systematic literature review of sustainable energy transition in Africa

12. NACETEM
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NACETEM…Managing Technology for Sustainable Development
Thank you for listening
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