Abstract

BEşER, Nazife Özge. The role of energy intensity and renewable energy in achieving environmental sustainability in African countries: A panel data analysis. J. energy South. Afr. [online]. 2026, vol.37, n.1, pp.1-20. ISSN 2413-3051.  https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2026/v37i1a25383.

The effects of renewable energy use and energy intensity on environmental sustainability constitute one of the main problems of the clean energy transition process, especially in Africa. This study analyses the impacts of renewable energy use and energy intensity on environmental sustainability, as represented by CO2 emissions, in 24 African countries. Using the annual panel data set for the period 1990-2021, firstly the cross-sectional dependence, slope heterogeneity and stationarity properties of the variables were tested. Then, the panel cointegration relationship was examined by Kao and Pedroni methods. Following these, common correlated effects estimator, augmented mean group estimator, and mean group estimator tests were applied for estimations. In terms of robustness, simultaneous quantile regression and generalised method of moments methods were used. The general results show that renewable energy reduces CO₂ emissions for all three tests, while energy intensity increases them. Therefore, technology and infrastructure programmes that will increase energy efficiency should be implemented together with financial incentives to increase renewable energy investments in these countries. At the same time, sustainable growth targets can be achieved while reducing emissions by introducing regulations that discourage carbon-intensive activities.

Keywords : Energy intensity; renewable energy; sustainability; augmented mean group estimator; mean group estimator; common correlated effects estimator.

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