An extensive report by INSPIRE, the Centre for Sustainability Transitions at Stellenbosch University, and Power Futures Lab, has highlighted the importance and need for transformative and collaborative research within South Africa’s Just Energy Transitions.
The report was borne out of the Academic Networking Event, which focused on socio-economic dynamics of utility-scale renewable energy within South Africa’s Just Energy Transition. The event brought together researchers and experts in various fields of sustainability transitions to the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business under the overarching theme of transformative research, specifically encouraging researchers and practitioners to collaborate and spearhead new methods of socio-economically change and push aside often limited and clinical means of current research practice.
The event’s agenda was designed and facilitated by Alison McCallum from Social Resonance and saw key objectives being outlined:
- Strengthening networks between students, researchers, and practitioners
- Enhancing understanding of ongoing research, identifying emerging topics, and aligning research with industry and community needs.
private sector organisations allowed for balanced representation from academic and professional settings. The diverse insights and perspectives shared by participants embodied the event’s collaborative spirit, bridging academic research with practical, real-world application.
Ensuring the event achieved its objectives, it was structured around three ideas: observe, reflect, and act. Participants focused on observing current research topics, methods, and approaches, synthesising key findings and emerging themes. They reflected on existing research gaps and identified opportunities for greater collaboration and impact, and explored ways to turn these insights into action by setting clear priorities and actionable steps.
Key themes emerged, including aspirations and potential contributions to South Africa’s Just Energy Transition, socio-economic impacts, job creation, green industrialisation, equitable access to renewable energy financing, and social performance in renewable energy deployment.
Key Observations of the event
Key themes of research currently being undertaken include aligning national policies, economic modelling, feasibility of technologies, job creation, finance, governance, land management, socio-economic impacts, industry practices, digital infrastructure, and effective science communication in energy transitions research. Additional challenges that were highlighted were limited data access, research procedural barriers, lack of funding, stakeholder engagement complexity, and challenges in measuring impact.
Data access
Limited access to crucial data, often held by industry or government stakeholders, hampers comprehensive research efforts and analysis.
Research procedures
Complex and time-consuming research procedures, aimed at ensuring ethical standards, can be especially challenging for postgraduate students without strong supervisory support.
Postgraduate support
Insufficient funding and resources for postgraduate students restrict the scope and impact of their research, affecting both students and supervisors.
Stakeholder engagement
Navigating diverse stakeholder dynamics, including community expectations and power structures, requires careful handling and specific skills, which can be challenging for researchers.
Impact evaluation
Measuring the tangible impact of academic research is difficult, as traditional academic frameworks may not fully capture the practical relevance to policy or societal needs.
Valuable insights uncovered research gaps, opportunities, and collaboration needs to advance South Africa’s just energy transition and promote impactful, socially inclusive, and environmentally sustainable solutions.
Research gaps
Key gaps identified include linking just energy transitions to disaster risk reduction, examining land use for multifunctional landscapes, and strengthening public accountability in governance and subsidy regulation.
Research opportunities
Potential areas for further study involve social equity in the global South, roles of emerging technologies, and finance mechanisms to promote broader social ownership of energy infrastructure and community engagement in renewable energy infrastructure.
Collaboration and capacity needs
Participants stressed the need for ethical data practices, increased research funding, improved science communication, and curriculum adjustments to align with policy and practice. Emphasis was placed on interdisciplinary approaches and fostering partnerships for impactful renewable energy research.
Outcomes and actions of the Academic Networking Event
Participants highlighted key takeaways and reflected on insights to inform their ongoing research and practical efforts. Five main action areas were proposed to strengthen partnerships and enhance knowledge sharing:
- Training: Focus on developing the skills needed for impactful energy research.
- Teaching: Embed Just Energy Transition concepts into educational curricula.
- Exchange: Foster collaboration across academic and industry sectors.
- Guidelines: Establish frameworks for consistent, ethical research.
- Networking: Build and sustain partnerships for continuous knowledge exchange.
These collective actions aim to align research efforts with South Africa’s energy transition goals, driving both academic and community-centered progress.
View the report here.
