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Solar Urban Planning in African Cities: Challenges and Prospects

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Decarbonisation Pathways for African Cities

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Climate Resilient Societies ((PSCRS))

Abstract

This chapter aims to identify and evaluate the opportunities and challenges of solar urban planning in Africa’s cities. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, 37 publications were selected and thematically analysed. It emerged that the vast solar energy potentials, formalised urban planning systems, declining costs, and rising acceptance of solar PVs are key opportunities for solar urban planning. Urban informality, inadequate technical expertise, regulatory bottlenecks, and non-compliance with building regulations are critical barriers to Africa’s solar urban planning. Research on the subject was found to be limited. Studies that explore decision support systems and strategies for integrating solar concerns into urban planning using multi-criteria assessments will be instrumental for realising this concept in Africa.

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Acknowledgement

This chapter was extracted from the first author’s ongoing PhD thesis at the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS). We are grateful to the Japan Foundation for the United Nations University (JFUNU), which provided a scholarship for his doctoral studies at the UNU-IAS.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, United Nations University, Tokyo, Japan

    Mark M. Akrofi & Mahesti Okitasari

  2. The Energy and Environment Research Group (TEERG), Mechanical Engineering Department, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria

    Olayinka S. Ohunakin

  3. Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Olayinka S. Ohunakin

  4. Durham Law School, Durham University, Durham, UK

    Smith I. Azubuike

Authors
  1. Mark M. Akrofi
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  2. Mahesti Okitasari
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  3. Olayinka S. Ohunakin
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  4. Smith I. Azubuike
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark M. Akrofi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Durham Law School, Durham University, Durham, UK

    Smith I Azubuike

  2. Department of Accounting and Finance Aberdeen Business School, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK

    Ayodele Asekomeh

  3. Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDeR) Department of Economics and Development Studies, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria

    Obindah Gershon

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Akrofi, M.M., Okitasari, M., Ohunakin, O.S., Azubuike, S.I. (2022). Solar Urban Planning in African Cities: Challenges and Prospects. In: Azubuike, S.I., Asekomeh, A., Gershon, O. (eds) Decarbonisation Pathways for African Cities. Palgrave Studies in Climate Resilient Societies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14006-8_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14006-8_2

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-14005-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-14006-8

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