Research Domain

Renewable Energy

Examining how Africa's energy transition intersects with technology infrastructure development — grid reliability, industrial localisation, nuclear economics, and the cascading effects on digital growth across the continent.

Coverage

Research Focus Areas

Energy research here focuses on the technology dimension — how power infrastructure shapes and is shaped by Africa's digital and industrial evolution.

Nuclear Energy Localisation
Supply chain, workforce, regulation, SMRs
Solar & Distributed Energy
Mini-grids, off-grid tech, solar economics
Grid Modernisation
Reliability, smart grids, data centre power needs
Industrial Value Chains
Localisation of energy equipment manufacturing
Energy Finance
Project finance, cost of capital, blended finance
AI in Energy Systems
Predictive maintenance, demand forecasting
Policy & Regulation
Regulatory frameworks, licensing, public acceptance

Papers

Energy Research Publications

Energy Published February 2026
Challenges of Nuclear Energy Localisation in Africa

A deep-research examination of why nuclear energy localisation is structurally difficult in most African contexts. Covers the continent's two most advanced cases — South Africa's Koeberg and Egypt's El Dabaa — alongside Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Algeria. Eight cross-cutting constraint dimensions: supply chains, regulatory capacity, workforce, grid readiness, finance, SMR choices, safety obligations, and public trust.

Norbert Butare · Consulting research for Africa Energy Services Group
Energy
Solar Mini-Grid Deployment and Digital Connectivity in East Africa

Examining the co-evolution of off-grid solar deployment and mobile internet access — how reliable power unlocks digital economic activity in underserved communities.

Energy
Data Centre Power Demand and Africa's Grid Capacity Gap

As cloud and AI infrastructure scales across Africa, what does the energy demand profile look like and how does current grid capacity constrain digital investment decisions?