Development of domestic technology for sustainable renewable energy in a zero-carbon emission-driven economy

Abstract

The global outcry for a sustainable energy system—energy transition regime, involves the substitution of fossil fuels with clean and affordable energy and the amelioration of greenhouse gas (GHG) effects on global health and environment. Studies have shown that economic growth proportionally links energy consumption, as seen in developed countries. Hence, countries with low economic activities such as those in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are supposedly not to panic over CO2 emissions. It is ascertained from energy reports, research articles, and several other sources of energy information and tools that economic activities in SSA resulted in 7.1% of the global share of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission. Ironically, despite this low share, the region is highly vulnerable to climate change due to low economic and technological advancement. The results of the studies on renewable energy (RE), CO2 emissions outlook, and global warming in SSA show that CO2 emission is increasing; global warming is about 0.5℃; anthropogenic global warming is between 0.8; and 1.2 °C locally and is increased at about 0.2 °C per decade. If not abated, a global warming of 1.5 °C will be reached between 2030 and 2053. To effectively boost RE deployment, and mitigate CO2 emissions in SSA, this study simplifies energy-GDP-CO2 nexus and identifies research and development areas to facilitate energy transition paradigm. The paper sees domestication of energy technology, deployment, and development of sustainable RE policies which are stern steps in mitigating CO2 emissions in SSA.