The Impact of the Informal Economy, Climate, Migration, and Rising Temperatures on Energy System Planning

The 6th West Africa Sustainable Engineering Network for Development (WASEND) seminar was held virtually on the 29th of November, 2023, with the theme “Energy System Modelling for the Real World: Transforming Modelling Approaches for Sustainable and Resilient Urban Development.” Dr. Mashael Yazdanie, a Research Scientist at the Urban Energy Systems Laboratory in Switzerland, was the resource person for the seminar.

Discussions were delved into the intricate dynamics affecting energy system planning, particularly in urban settings, focusing on Accra, Ghana.
Dr. Yazdanie said the surging energy demands in Africa’s urban cities, notably Accra, Ghana, have exposed critical flaws in planning the city’s energy system.

She led an insightful discussion, highlighting key research areas and guided participants through three pivotal factors disrupting the energy landscape. She mentioned Climate Change Impacts, Socioeconomic Challenges and Power Sector Performance issues as the disrupting factors.
“The research we undertook delves into understanding the effects of the informal economy, urban migration due to climate change, and the consequences of rising temperatures due to global warming,” she added.
Dr. Yazdanie stressed the urgency of developing a comprehensive, sustainable, long-term energy system plan to tackle Accra’s current energy crises while fortifying its resilience for the future. 
WASEND is a network of Colleges of Engineering under the Africa Centres of Excellence for Impact Project (ACE Impact). The network seeks to leverage the expertise of its members and build synergies to address Sub-regional challenges in energy and digital development.
It is made up of four West African Colleges of Engineering:
  • College of Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana
  • International Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (2IE), Burkina Faso
  • University of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology (USET), Gambia
  • College of Engineering, University of Abomey Calavi, Benin