Strategic Energy Planning for Districts and Local Municipalities in the Global South

Paul A. Adedeji is a consultant energy specialist with the University of Johannesburg’s Process Energy and Environmental Technology Station (UJ-PEETS) for strategic energy planning and high-level energy projects involving government, industry, and international stakeholders. His PhD in Mechanical Engineering focused on integrating artificial intelligence into utility-scale renewable energy systems. He has led the development of energy strategies for the largest district in South Africa and special economic zones, and he currently leads similar projects for other districts and special economic zones in South Africa. Dr. Adedeji served as an advisory board member for the energy workstream of the Musina Makhado Special Economic Zone and also as an energy reference board member for the Water Research Commission, South Africa. He is a certified energy manager under the Association of Energy Engineers, a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Council for Engineering Regulations in Nigeria, and the South African Energy Efficiency Confederation, as well as an NRF-rated researcher. He is currently an Academic Editor for the International Journal of Energy Research and supervises post-graduate students with a focus on strategic energy planning.

Obafemi O. Olatunji is a registered engineer, a trained energy manager and a certified renewable energy professional with the Association of Energy Engineers. He earned a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, which focused on artificial intelligence integration in energy systems. He has ten years of working experience across both industry and academia. He is currently working as a program manager at the University of Johannesburg’s Process Energy and Environmental Technology Station (UJ-PEETS), where he heads up the energy and energy efficiency portfolio. He also serves as a member of various professional organisations, including the Verification & Validation (V&V 60) Committee, the ASME Committee on Codes and Standards, and the South African Energy Efficiency Confederation. Dr. Olatunji has managed the development of energy strategies for municipal districts and special economic zones in South Africa. He has presented on energy strategy and energy efficiency to diverse stakeholders at different national and international forums. He is currently co-supervising post-graduate students working on energy sustainability and sits on the editorial advisory board of the Journal of Energy Sources.

Nkosinathi Madushele is a professional engineer registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). He holds a D.Eng. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Johannesburg. With both industry and academic experience, Prof. Madushele has previously held positions of Junior Project Manager in the construction industry and Systems Engineer in the state-owned company ESKOM. Prof. Madushele is currently the Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Science at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, where he supervises Honours, Masters, and PhD students, as well as mentoring junior engineers in state-owned companies who want to register as professional engineers. He sits on a number of panels including the NRF applications review panel and the Qualifications Evaluations Panel in the Engineering Council of South Africa. Prof. Madushele has also received several research grants, with the most recent one being the Thuthuka Grant issued by the National Research Foundation (NRF). He is currently the principal investigator on NRF-funded research on intelligent condition monitoring of wind turbine mechanical systems. He is a certified energy manager and a member of the Association of Energy Engineers.

Nickey Janse van Rensburg heads up the University of Johannesburg’s Process, Energy & Environmental Technology Station (UJ-PEETS). The Technology Station Program is an initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) implemented by the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), supporting emerging enterprises through technology innovation in the green economy. Dr. van Rensburg has spearheaded several initiatives driving technology and social innovation, focusing on developing sustainable socio-technical systems. UJ-PEETS facilitates collaboration, research and development between government, industry, and academia to promote green growth in South Africa. Her portfolio of projects ranges from building and racing solar-powered vehicles across Africa, supporting strategic energy planning at local municipalities, and supporting green skills development at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges to support capacity development in the renewable energy sector.