scholarly journals Digitalisation and sustainable energy transitions in Africa: assessing the impact of policy and regulatory environments on the energy sector in Nigeria and South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fortune Nwaiwu
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Smart Grids ◽  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Energy Sector ◽  
Use Cases ◽  
Energy Transitions ◽  
Production And Consumption

Abstract Background Digital technologies have unique characteristics for achieving radically disruptive transitions within the energy sector. They provide opportunities for new production and consumption models between micro-producers and consumers of electricity within communities in a way that transforms the traditional energy generation and consumption model. The study critically assessed the digitalisation of energy systems in Africa within the context of existing policy frameworks in the quest to achieve sustainable energy transitions in Africa. It investigated how digital technologies such as blockchain, digital platforms and smart grids were adopted and implemented within the energy sector to achieve new energy production and consumption models that are both environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. This assessment was done within the context of existing policy and regulatory frameworks of the society where the use cases were domiciled. Methods The aim of the research was to investigate how sustainable energy transitions are being achieved in Nigeria and South Africa through the digitalisation of energy systems. A qualitative methodological approach was done in three stages—a document analysis that reviewed relevant literature on the energy sector policies in Nigeria and South Africa; the next step involved a comparative case study conducted to assess the characteristics of digital technology deployment in each country’s energy transition. Finally, outcomes of the comparative case studies were then situated within the context of existing policies within the countries covered by the study. Results Results from the research indicate that Africa is still in the early stages of adoption and application of digital technologies such as blockchain and smart grids within the energy sector. The results also showed a disconnect between the policy environment and industry efforts at achieving this. The current applications as exemplified in the use cases by the three companies covered in this study indicates that Africa's sustainable energy transition is in a rudimentary or early adoption stage, and they are not currently aided by the policy environments in which such projects are domiciled. Conclusions The research provides deep insights into the current state and developments within the energy sector especially in relation to how digital technologies are being adopted and implemented in solving the energy poverty prevalent across sub-Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals Digitalisation of Energy Systems within the Context of Existing Policy Frameworks: An Assessment of Sustainable Energy Transitions in Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fortune Nwaiwu
Keyword(s):  
Smart Grids ◽  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Sector ◽  
Use Cases ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Energy Transitions ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Policy Frameworks

Abstract BackgroundDigital technologies have unique characteristics for achieving radically disruptive transitions within the energy sector. They provide opportunities for new production and consumption models between micro producers and consumers of electricity within communities in a way that transforms the traditional energy generation and consumption model. The study critically assessed the digitalisation of energy systems in Africa within the context of existing policy frameworks in the quest to achieve sustainable energy transitions in Africa. It investigated how digital technologies such as blockchain, digital platforms and smart grids were adopted and implemented within the energy sector in achieving new energy production and consumption models that are both environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive, this assessment was done within the context of existing policy and regulatory frameworks of the society where the use cases were domiciled. MethodsThe research adopted a qualitative methodological approach which was done in three stages - a document analysis that reviewed relevant literature on the energy sector and policies within the sector for Nigeria and South Africa; the next step involved a comparative case study is conducted to assess the characteristics of how digital technologies was deployed in mediating sustainable energy transitions; finally, the outcomes of the comparative case studies was then situated within the context of existing policies within the countries covered by the study ResultsResults from the research indicate that Africa is still in the early stages of adoption and application of digital technologies such as blockchain and smart grids within the energy sector, the results also showed the disconnect between policy environment and industry efforts in achieving digital technologies mediated sustainable energy transitions in Africa. The current applications as exemplified in the use cases by the three companies covered in this study indicates that Africa's sustainable energy transitions is in a rudimentary or early adoption stage, and they are not currently aided by the policy environments in which such projects are domiciled.ConclusionsThe research provides deep insights into the current state and developments within the energy sector especially in relations to how digital technologies are being adopted and implemented in solving the energy poverty prevalent across sub-Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals FACTORS OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TRANSFORMATIONS MANAGEMENT IN THE UKRAINIAN ENERGY SECTOR

2020 ◽  
pp. 149-155
Author(s):  
U. Pysmenna ◽  
G. Trypolska ◽  
T. Kurbatova ◽  
O. Kubatko
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Energy Sector ◽  
Transition Management ◽  
Energy Sustainability ◽  
Energy Transitions ◽  
The Impact

The article considers the preconditions for sustainable development of the energy sector from the standpoint of political and economic basis of energy transitions, actualizes and reveals the scientific problem of the impact of socio-technical transitions, in particular energy, on economic sustainability. It is determined that the task of assessing the efficiency of the energy system as a set of criteria for achieving a compromise of interests, stability and reliability of energy markets is best solved by assessing energy sustainability. Problems and ways to intensify the use of energy policy levers to promote sustainable energy transitions have been identified. It is determined that with the help of sustainable energy transitions the state is able to overcome its own inefficiency of energy conversion and consumption and to demonstrate the phenomenon of decoupling (economic growth without significant growth of energy consumption). Energy policies and strategies as means of energy transition management are considered: creation of preconditions for their occurrence; acceleration / deceleration, support of current transittions; minimization of negative external factors and social factors of vulnerability to changes in socio-technical regimes; maintaining an optimal energy balance. A deeper understanding of the process of energy transition management, vulnerability of energy systems under their influence has been achieved. Three key factors of energy transition management in order to strengthen the level of energy sustainability and ensure sustainable development of the economy: the course (flow) of transitions, the vulnerability of the economic system under their influence and the level of sustainability of energy transitions. Effective management of such transitions with the help of these factors can be a guarantee of sustainable development not only of the energy sector but also of the economy as a whole and create the conditions for its transition to a sustainable and circular type of development. The management of energy transitions in the energy sector of Ukraine is analyzed on the example of diversification of electricity supply through the operation of small solar power plants in private households.

Modern Optimization Algorithms and Applications in Solar Photovoltaic Engineering

2016 ◽  
pp. 390-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Tyukhov ◽  
Hegazy Rezk ◽  
Pandian Vasant
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Smart Grids ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Point Tracking ◽  
Composition Structure ◽  
Primary Energy Supply ◽  
Power Point

This chapter is devoted to main tendencies of optimization in photovoltaic (PV) engineering showing the main trends in modern energy transition - the changes in the composition (structure) of primary energy supply, the gradual shift from a traditional (mainly based on fossil fuels) energy to a new stage based on renewable energy systems from history to current stage and to future. The concrete examples (case studies) of optimization PV systems in different concepts of using from power electronics (particularly maximum power point tracking optimization) to implementing geographic information system (GIS) are considered. The chapter shows the gradual shifting optimization from specific quite narrow areas to the new stages of optimization of the very complex energy systems (actually smart grids) based on photovoltaics and also other renewable energy sources and GIS.

scholarly journals Sustainable Energy Transitions: Overcoming Negative Externalities

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 312-327
Author(s):  
U. Yе. Pysmenna ◽  
G. S. Trypolska
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
System Stability ◽  
Sustainability Transitions ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Negative Externalities ◽  
Energy Sustainability ◽  
Biomass Waste ◽  
Energy Transitions ◽  
Wide Range

Nowadays the world energy system faces numerous transitions and shifts of the existing socio-technical regimes towards higher sustainability. Along with it, the sustainable transitions are often being postponed, slowed down or rejected to avoid negative externalities that could threaten the system stability. In this study, we aim to reach the deeper understanding of the externalities of energy transitions and the vulnerability of energy systems under the influence of negative externalities caused by sustainable energy transitions. Using the Externality theory (Baumol, Oates), Sociotechnical transition theory (Geels), as well as Energy sustainability Trilemma Method for the evaluation of the sustainability of energy systems we argue that such externalities need to be treated (internalized, avoided) by special policy measures other than common (classical) ways which may cause slowing down of sustainability transitions and make extra barriers for them. Transitions to more clean and low-carbon energy systems using energy technologies such as solar, wind, small hydro, biomass, waste management, e-vehicles are in the scope of this paper. It classifies the wide range of policy methods (classical and new) being applied separately and simultaneously, and analyses their application in energy policies designing aimed to combat negative externalities of energy sustainability transitions worldwide, so they might be minimized by properly tailored energy policy in each particular case.

scholarly journals The Potential of Vehicle-to-Grid to Support the Energy Transition: A Case Study on Switzerland

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 4812
Author(s):  
Loris Di Natale ◽  
Luca Funk ◽  
Martin Rüdisüli ◽  
Bratislav Svetozarevic ◽  
Giacomo Pareschi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Large Share ◽  
Vehicle To Grid ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
The Impact

Energy systems are undergoing a profound transition worldwide, substituting nuclear and thermal power with intermittent renewable energy sources (RES), creating discrepancies between the production and consumption of electricity and increasing their dependence on greenhouse gas (GHG) intensive imports from neighboring energy systems. In this study, we analyze the concurrent electrification of the mobility sector and investigate the impact of electric vehicles (EVs) on energy systems with a large share of renewable energy sources. In particular, we build an optimization framework to assess how Evs could compete and interplay with other energy storage technologies to minimize GHG-intensive electricity imports, leveraging the installed Swiss reservoir and pumped hydropower plants (PHS) as examples. Controlling bidirectional EVs or reservoirs shows potential to decrease imported emissions by 33–40%, and 60% can be reached if they are controlled simultaneously and with the support of PHS facilities when solar PV panels produce a large share of electricity. However, even if vehicle-to-grid (V2G) can support the energy transition, we find that its benefits will reach their full potential well before EVs penetrate the mobility sector to a large extent and that EVs only contribute marginally to long-term energy storage. Hence, even with a widespread adoption of EVs, we cannot expect V2G to single-handedly solve the growing mismatch problem between the production and consumption of electricity.

scholarly journals An Enabling Framework to Support the Sustainable Energy Transition at the National Level

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3834
Author(s):  
Marina Blohm
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
National Level ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Ecological Protection ◽  
Carbon Neutral ◽  
Under Construction ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Climate Crisis

The world is fighting against the impacts of the climate crisis. Although the technical feasibility of 100% renewable energy systems was already verified by a variety of research studies, there were still more than 200 GW of unsustainable new coal power capacity under construction at a global level in 2018. To achieve the required carbon neutrality, current energy systems need to be transformed toward sustainable energy. The review of the literature has shown that several barriers for carbon-neutral technologies exist, which currently impede the sustainable transition. This paper focuses on the development of an enabling framework to overcome existing barriers to facilitate sustainable and carbon-neutral technologies at the national level. Additionally, it should support decision makers to consider all underlying criteria of this urgently needed energy transition. The criteria of such an enabling framework can be classified in 11 categories, which are (1) environmental and ecological protection; (2) society, culture, and behavior; (3) equity and justice; (4) knowledge; (5) energy markets; (6) energy policy; (7) legal requirements; (8) finance; (9) institutions; (10) infrastructure; and (11) clash of interests. Even though some criteria differ from country to country, a strong governmental support for the transition is always required to be successful.

Grounded Theory in Sustainable Energy Initiatives

2020 ◽  
pp. 103-128
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Smart Grids ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Investment Decision ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Social Phenomena ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Investment Decision Making

The purpose of this chapter is to raise awareness by introducing ideas that are generally based on transition studies and grounded theory (GT). In addition, to support us to understand phenomena such as green building investment decision making, changing energy saving behavior, and diffusion of smart grids and energy systems, these ideas also help developing interventions to reduce climate change through renewable energy technologies. Since energy systems are important determinants of social structure and complexity, and also because little attention has been paid to the social dynamics of energy transition in a social setting, the use of GT as a qualitative research methodology suitable to study this social phenomena can be helpful in this regard.

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