Co-Creating Energy Models in Africa: Stakeholder Perspectives from Morocco, Mozambique, and Mali
Main Article Content
Abstract
Stakeholder engagement, data collection, and more importantly, the analysis of the collected data and their implementation are critical components for an effective energy system modelling. The energy modelling needs to also address local specificizes as in this case focused on African continent these needs to include specific energy challenges, such as inadequate access to electricity, unreliable energy supply coupled with a heavy reliance on traditional biomass. Stakeholder views on the energy modelling process within the three African regions with specific case studies in Morocco, Mozambique and the Niger river basin in Mali are investigated. To effectively capture the diverse and multifaceted viewpoints of stakeholders, a mixed-methods approach was employed, combining surveys with interviews and focus group discussions. The stakeholders included through Quadruple helix approach are representing academia & research institutions, civil society, policy makers and investors in the mentioned countries. The objectives of the research were to understand energy needs and priorities in different countries, assess current practices when it comes to energy modelling, facilitate collaboration between different stakeholders, and gather insights for development of energy models.
Article Details
Articles published in International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management are following the license Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License: Attribution - NonCommercial - NoDerivs (by-nc-nd). Further information about Creative Commons
Authors can archive post-print (final draft post-refereering) on personal websites or institutional repositories under these conditions:
- Publishers version cannot be stored elsewhere but on publishers homepage
- Published source must be acknowledged
- Must link to publisher version
References
[1] Sokona et al. (2023). Just Transition: A Climate, Energy and Development Vision for Africa. Independent Expert Group on Just Transition and Development. https://justtransitionafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Just-Transition-Africareport-ENG_single-pages.pdf www.justtransitionafrica.org
[2] Ouedraogo NS. Modeling sustainable long-term electricity supply-demand in Africa. Appl Energy 2017;190:1047–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.APENERGY.2016.12.162.
[3] Gyimah LAA, Gyimah AG. Renewable Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Prescriptive Analysis of Ghana. Environmental Management and Sustainable Development 2024;13:43. https://doi.org/10.5296/emsd.v13i2.22296.
[4] Yuni DN, Ezenwa NJ, Urama NE, Tingum EN, Mohlori-Sepamo K. Renewable Energy and Inclusive Economic Development: An African Case Study. International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management 2023;39:23–35. https://doi.org/10.54337/IJSEPM.7413.
[5] Agoundedemba M, Kim CK, Kim HG. Energy Status in Africa: Challenges, Progress and Sustainable Pathways. Energies (Basel) 2023;16. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16237708.
[6] Lund H. Renewable energy strategies for sustainable development. Energy 2007;32:912–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENERGY.2006.10.017.
[7] Kandpal TC, Broman L. Renewable energy education: A global status review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2014;34:300–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RSER.2014.02.039.
[8] Sihlobo S, Mbatha S. University-industry-government research and development collaborations in public higher education institutions in South Africa. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development 2023;15:69–78. https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2021.2016559.
[9] Ilskog E, Kjellström B. And then they lived sustainably ever after?—Assessment of rural electrification cases by means of indicators. Energy Policy 2008;36:2674–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENPOL.2008.03.022.
[10] Mulugetta Y, Urban F. Deliberating on low carbon development. Energy Policy 2010;38:7546–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2010.05.049.
[11] Fuinhas JA, Koengkan M, Silva N, Kazemzadeh E, Auza A, Santiago R, et al. The Impact of Energy Policies on the Energy Efficiency Performance of Residential Properties in Portugal. Energies (Basel) 2022;15. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15030802.
[12] Van De Ven AH, Johnson PE. Knowledge for Theory and Practice. Article in Academy of Management Review 2006. https://doi.org/10.2307/20159252.
[13] Gouvea R, Kassicieh S, Montoya MJR. Using the quadruple helix to design strategies for the green economy. Technol Forecast Soc Change 2013;80:221–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TECHFORE.2012.05.003.
[14] Sady M. The role of stakeholders in sustainable development. Organizing Sustainable Development, Taylor and Francis; 2023, p. 203–17. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003379409-19.
[15] Malysheva E. Stakeholders and Their Role in the Context of Sustainable Development, 2022, p. 663–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90843-0_75.
[16] Osabutey ELC, Jackson T. The impact on development of technology and knowledge transfer in Chinese MNEs in sub-Saharan Africa: The Ghanaian case. Technol Forecast Soc Change 2019;148:119725. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TECHFORE.2019.119725.
[17] Edomah N. Who triggers change? Social network mapping, stakeholder analysis and energy systems interventions in Nigeria’s electricity sector. International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management 2023;37:5–20. https://doi.org/10.54337/IJSEPM.7246.
[18] Chan M, Jin H, van Kan D, Vrcelj Z. Developing an innovative assessment framework for sustainable infrastructure development. J Clean Prod 2022;368:133185. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2022.133185.
[19] Ambole A, Koranteng K, Njoroge P, Luhangala DL. A review of energy communities in sub-saharan africa as a transition pathway to energy democracy. Sustainability (Switzerland) 2021;13:1–19. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042128.
[20] Chileshe M. International Renewable Energy Finance Mechanisms and the Role of Local Stakeholders in Project Design and Implementation: Perceptions from Zambia. Open Journal of Business and Management 2023;11:3066–80. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojbm.2023.116168.
[21] Butu AI, Strachan P. Navigating Pathways for Community Renewable Electricity in Rural Areas: Stakeholders’ Perspectives on the Shape Community Project, Nigeria. International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management 2022;33:19–34. https://doi.org/10.5278/IJSEPM.6813.
[22] Khaleel AG, Chakrabarti M. Energy modelling as a tool for curbing energy crisis and enhancing transition to sustainable energy system in Nigeria. International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management 2019;21:3–18. https://doi.org/10.5278/IJSEPM.2019.21.2.
[23] Swart L, Swilling M, Gcanga A. Exploring a Water–Energy–Food (WEF) Nexus Approach to Governance: A Case Study of the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa. Energies (Basel) 2024;17:4005. https://doi.org/10.3390/EN17164005/S1.
[24] Bhandari R, Sessa V, Adamou R. Rural electrification in Africa – A willingness to pay assessment in Niger. Renew Energy 2020;161:20–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RENENE.2020.06.151.
[25] Pavičević M, De Felice M, Busch S, Hidalgo González I, Quoilin S. Water-energy nexus in African power pools – The Dispa-SET Africa model. Energy 2021;228:120623. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENERGY.2021.120623.
[26] Terfa H, Baghli L, Bhandari R. Impact of renewable energy micro-power plants on power grids over Africa. Energy 2022;238:121702. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENERGY.2021.121702.
[27] Nfah EM, Ngundam JM. Identification of stakeholders for sustainable renewable energy applications in Cameroon. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2012;16:4661–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RSER.2012.05.019.
[28] Stritzke S, Jain P. The sustainability of decentralised renewable energy projects in developing countries: Learning lessons from Zambia. Energies (Basel) 2021;14. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14133757.
[29] Parrado-Hernando G, Herc L, Feijoo F, Capellán-Pérez I. Capturing features of hourly-resolution energy models in an integrated assessment model: An application to the EU27 region. Energy 2024;304:131903. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENERGY.2024.131903.
[30] Lizana J, Halloran CE, Wheeler S, Amghar N, Renaldi R, Killendahl M, et al. A national data-based energy modelling to identify optimal heat storage capacity to support heating electrification. Energy 2023;262:125298. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENERGY.2022.125298.
[31] Groppi D, Pastore LM, Nastasi B, Prina MG, Astiaso Garcia D, de Santoli L. Energy modelling challenges for the full decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2025;209:115103. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RSER.2024.115103.
[32] Olawale-Johnson OP, Ajwang P, Ondimu SN. Reducing cooling demands in sub-saharan africa: A study on the thermal performance of passive cooling methods in enclosed spaces. Journal of Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems 2021;9. https://doi.org/10.13044/J.SDEWES.D7.0313.
[33] Gessa-Perera A, Sancha-Dionisio M del P, González- Expósito I. Opportunities for waste recovery to improve the carbon footprint in the Spanish cement industry under a cap and trade system: Insights from a case study. J Clean Prod 2017;142:3665–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2016.10.101.
[34] Manfren M, Nastasi B, Tronchin L, Groppi D, Garcia DA. Techno-economic analysis and energy modelling as a key enablers for smart energy services and technologies in buildings. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2021;150:111490. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RSER.2021.111490.
[35] Parrado-Hernando G, Herc L, Pfeifer A, Capellán-Perez I, Batas Bjelić I, Duić N, et al. Capturing features of hourly-resolution energy models through statistical annual indicators. Renew Energy 2022;197:1192–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RENENE.2022.07.040.
[36] Piselli C, Pisello AL, Sovacool BK. From social science surveys to building energy modeling: Investigating user-building interaction for low-carbon heating solutions in Europe. Energy Reports 2022;8:7188–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EGYR.2022.05.119.
[37] Hoff H, Ogeya M, de Condappa D, Brecha RJ, Dahl Larsen MA, Halsnaes K, et al. Stakeholder-guided, model-based scenarios for a climate- and water-smart electricity transition in Ghana and Burkina Faso. Energy Strategy Reviews 2023;49:101149. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ESR.2023.101149.
[38] Ogunleye OS, Coenen F, Hoppe T. Stakeholder Perspectives on Community Energy Contributing to the Use of Renewable Energy Sources and Improving Energy Security in Nigeria. Energies 2022, Vol 15, Page 7390 2022;15:7390. https://doi.org/10.3390/EN15197390.
[39] Matinga MN, Pinedo-Pascua I, Vervaeke J, Monforti-Ferrario F, Szabó S. Do African and European energy stakeholders agree on key energy drivers in Africa? Using Q methodology to understand perceptions on energy access debates. Energy Policy 2014;69:154–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENPOL.2013.12.041.
[40] McGookin C, Ó Gallachóir B, Byrne E. Participatory methods in energy system modelling and planning – A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2021;151:111504. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RSER.2021.111504.
[41] Campfens JKEK, Duygan M, Binder CR. A review of participatory modelling techniques for energy transition scenarios. Advances in Applied Energy 2025;17:100215. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ADAPEN.2025.100215.
[42] Fang L, He B. A deep learning framework using multi-feature fusion recurrent neural networks for energy consumption forecasting. Appl Energy 2023;348:121563. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.APENERGY.2023.121563.
[43] Musonye XS, Davíðsdóttir B, Kristjánsson R, Ásgeirsson EI, Stefánsson H. Integrated energy systems’ modeling studies for sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2020;128:109915. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RSER.2020.109915.
[44] Todd I, McCauley D. Assessing policy barriers to the energy transition in South Africa. Energy Policy 2021;158:112529. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENPOL.2021.112529.
[45] Mungai EM, Ndiritu SW, Da Silva I. Unlocking climate finance potential and policy barriers—A case of renewable energy and energy efficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa. Resources, Environment and Sustainability 2022;7:100043. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RESENV.2021.100043.
[46] Pal R, Chavhan S, Gupta D, Khanna A, Padmanaban S, Khan B, et al. A comprehensive review on IoT-based infrastructure for smart grid applications. IET Renewable Power Generation 2021;15:3761–76. https://doi.org/10.1049/rpg2.12272
[47] Molokomme DN, Onumanyi AJ, Abu-Mahfouz AM. Edge Intelligence in Smart Grids: A Survey on Architectures, Offloading Models, Cyber Security Measures, and Challenges. Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks 2022, Vol 11, Page 47 2022;11:47. https://doi.org/10.3390/JSAN11030047.
[48] Kirli D, Hampp J, Van Greevenbroek K, Grant R, Mahmood M, Parzen M, et al. PyPSA meets Africa: Developing an open source electricity network model of the African continent. IEEE AFRICON Conference 2021;2021-September. https://doi.org/10.1109/AFRICON51333.2021.9570911.
[49] Shaaban M, Scheffran J, Elsobki MS, Azadi H. A Comprehensive Evaluation of Electricity Planning Models in Egypt: Optimization versus Agent-Based Approaches. Sustainability 2022, Vol 14, Page 1563 2022;14:1563. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU14031563.
[50] Dall-Orsoletta A, Uriona-Maldonado M, Dranka G, Ferreira P. A review of social aspects integration in system dynamics energy systems models. International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management 2022;36:33–52. https://doi.org/10.54337/IJSEPM.7478.
[51] Bishoge OK, Kombe GG, Mvile BN. Community participation in the renewable energy sector in Tanzania. International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management 2020;28:121–34. https://doi.org/10.5278/IJSEPM.4477.
[52] Tarekegne B. Just electrification: Imagining the justice dimensions of energy access and addressing energy poverty. Energy Res Soc Sci 2020;70:101639. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ERSS.2020.101639.
