Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-02920-9 ORIGINAL PAPER Development of domestic technology for sustainable renewable energy in a zero‑carbon emission‑driven economy W. S. Ebhota 1  · P. Y. Tabakov 1 Received: 15 April 2020 / Revised: 24 August 2020 / Accepted: 1 September 2020 © Islamic Azad University (IAU) 2020 Abstract The global outcry for a sustainable energy system—energy transition regime, involves the substitution of fossil fuels with clean and afordable energy and the amelioration of greenhouse gas (GHG) efects on global health and environment. Studies have shown that economic growth proportionally links energy consumption, as seen in developed countries. Hence, countries with low economic activities such as those in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are supposedly not to panic over CO 2 emissions. It is ascertained from energy reports, research articles, and several other sources of energy information and tools that economic activities in SSA resulted in 7.1% of the global share of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emission. Ironically, despite this low share, the region is highly vulnerable to climate change due to low economic and technological advancement. The results of the studies on renewable energy (RE), CO 2 emissions outlook, and global warming in SSA show that CO 2 emission is increasing; global warming is about 0.5℃; anthropogenic global warming is between 0.8; and 1.2 °C locally and is increased at about 0.2 °C per decade. If not abated, a global warming of 1.5 °C will be reached between 2030 and 2053. To efectively boost RE deployment, and mitigate CO 2 emissions in SSA, this study simplifes energy-GDP-CO 2 nexus and identifes research and development areas to facilitate energy transition paradigm. The paper sees domestication of energy technology, deployment, and development of sustainable RE policies which are stern steps in mitigating CO 2 emissions in SSA. Keywords Renewable energy · CO 2 emission · Greenhouse gas · Global emission · Climate change · Sub-Saharan Africa Introduction This study echoes the importance of renewable energy (RE) infrastructure and domestic technology capacity building to the provision of adequate power supply without compromis- ing the environment and future use of energy resources in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It orates that domestic R&D in RE technology is a key in curtailing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions in the region and, therefore, identifes contempo- rary areas of R&D in RE, CO 2 capturing and storing that will facilitate increase in RE deployment and CO 2 emis- sions mitigation in SSA. The article presents salient infor- mation vital to postgraduate studies, RE investors, guide the government, and policymakers to implement realistic and sustainable policy in the region. The study is intended to create awareness on the underlying nexus between CO2, gross domestic product (GDP), and energy consumption. In addition, the study will outline some steps policies that can be integrated into national policies, planning, and strate- gies towards climate change mitigation in SSA. To achieve a sustainable environment and energy system, countries in SSA need to develop a robust and sustainable economy domestically. As a developing region, the governments have to establish similar national energy and environmental poli- cies to align economic development to secure and sustain clean energy supply and the environment. Access to reliable and stable electricity supply in most countries in SSA is challenging for both urban and rural dwellers. The available power supply is characterised by chronic undesirable, and insufcient supply, long downtime, obsolete facilities, inadequate skilled personnel, exploita- tive billing system, and so on. Consequently, the region accommodates the highest percentage of people without access to electricity, living in abject poverty. About 40% Editorial responsibility: Samareh Mirkia. * W. S. Ebhota ebhotawilliams1@gmail.com 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Systems Science, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa