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Renewable Energy - Economic Growth Nexus in South Africa: Linear, Nonlinear or Non-existent?

Author

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  • Bothwell Nyoni

    (Innoventon and the Downstream Chemicals Technology Station, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa,)

  • Andrew Phiri

    (Department of Economics, Faculty of Business and Economic Studies, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.)

Abstract

With escalating fears of climate change reaching irreversible levels, much emphasis has been recently placed on shifting to renewable sources of energy in supporting future economic livelihood. Focusing on South Africa, as Africa s largest energy consumer and producer, our study investigates the short-run and long-run effects of renewable energy on economic growth using linear and nonlinear autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) models. Working with data availability, our empirical analysis is carried out over the period of 1991 to 2016, and our results unanimously fail to confirm any linear or nonlinear cointegration effects of the consumption and production of renewable energy on South African economic growth. We view the absence of cointergation relations as an indication of inefficient usage of renewable energy in supporting sustainable growth in South Africa and hence advise policymakers to accelerate the establishment of necessary renewable infrastructure in supporting future energy requireme ts.

Suggested Citation

  • Bothwell Nyoni & Andrew Phiri, 2020. "Renewable Energy - Economic Growth Nexus in South Africa: Linear, Nonlinear or Non-existent?," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(6), pages 635-644.
    • Handle: RePEc:eco:journ2:2020-06-82
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrew Phiri & Bothwell Nyoni, 2023. "Clean versus dirty electricity generation and economic growth in South Africa: time–frequency study," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(4), pages 2801-2824, August.
    2. Shah, Muhammad Ibrahim & Kirikkaleli, Dervis & Adedoyin, Festus Fatai, 2021. "Regime switching effect of COVID-19 pandemic on renewable electricity generation in Denmark," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 797-806.
    3. Espoir, Delphin Kamanda & Sunge, Regret & Bannor, Frank, 2021. "Economic growth, renewable and nonrenewable electricity consumption: A fresh evidence from a panel sample of African countries," EconStor Preprints 238063, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    4. Tenaw, Dagmawe, 2022. "Do traditional energy dependence, income, and education matter in the dynamic linkage between clean energy transition and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 204-213.
    5. Hlongwane, Nyiko Worship & Daw, Olebogeng David & Sithole, Mixo Sweetness, 2023. "Renewable electricity generation and government expenditure on economic growth of South Africa and Botswana," MPRA Paper 116497, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 24 Feb 2023.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Renewable energy; economic growth; ARDL; nonlinear ARDL; South Africa; Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA).;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models
    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection
    • Q43 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Energy and the Macroeconomy

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