Energy Justice and the Transition to Renewable Energy in Africa: Community Participation and Equity in Access

Abstract

Climate vulnerability, developmental inequality, and ongoing energy poverty are all factors influencing Africa's transition to renewable energy. More than 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to electricity, despite the region's wealth of solar and wind resources. Africa needs a greater emphasis on energy justice, which includes distributive (equitable access and burden sharing), procedural (inclusive decision-making) and recognition (respect for marginalised identities) justice, even though global energy transition narratives place a strong emphasis on decarbonisation. This study investigates how renewable energy projects in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria adhere to energy justice principles. 15 semi-structured interviews, policy analysis, and NGO reports were used in a qualitative comparative case study approach. Stakeholder comparison and coding were done using NVivo 14 software. Findings show Kenya’s decentralized energy systems support more inclusive participation, while South Africa’s top-down transition marginalizes some communities. Nigeria presents the most challenges, with minimal local engagement and significant justice deficits. Vulnerable groups such as women, youth, and indigenous populations are often excluded across all cases. The study concludes that embedding energy justice in planning and governance is essential for a sustainable, inclusive African energy transition. Policy recommendations emphasize community participation, equitable benefit sharing, and justice-led energy frameworks.