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Sustainable Solutions for Africa’s Energy and Infrastructure Development.

This thesis explores sustainable engineering solutions for Zimbabwe's energy and infrastructure, employing critical realism, mixed-methods research, and systems thinking. A central hypothesis is that “through synergistically linking sustainable engineering solutions and strategic policy interventions, besides public-private partnerships cooperation, much can be done in Zimbabwe to improve energy resilience and sustainability”. In addition, the research found that investments in modern grid technology or regulatory incentives are crucial for removing barriers to the current levels of energy sustainability.

The study develops a conceptual model linking policy design to real-world implementation, validating the hypothesis. It concludes with recommendations for enhancing Zimbabwe’s energy resilience through smart grids, circular economy principles, and institutional capacity-building, providing a roadmap for long-term sustainability in Africa’s energy sector. The thesis concluded that these factors are the prerequisites for a just energy transition towards attaining net zero by 2050 for Zimbabwe. The thesis revealed that Africa faces significant challenges in sustainable energy and infrastructure development, particularly in Zimbabwe, which is hindered by an ageing power grid and limited renewable technology adoption.

Submitted by: Martin Manuhwa
EIU532162
In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Sustainable Energy Engineering
Supervisor: Ky. Col. Prof. Dr. Edward Roy Krishnan
Date: 15, November 2024
EIU-PARIS