ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the role of energy communities in achieving the just energy transition with implications for smart city development in sub-Saharan Africa. It establishes the link between the key concepts, namely energy communities, just energy transition, and smart cities. The chapter provides a discussion that centres energy communities at the heart of just energy transition and smart cities in Africa. It deals with a note of caution on the possible hindrances to attaining socio-economic development through just energy transition and smart cities in Africa. The chapter examines the characteristics of energy communities and assesses community efforts at energy transition. Energy communities are arguably a new form of social movement that enables participation and democracy in energy processes. In 2015, the Federal Government of Nigeria introduced the Nigerian Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy aimed at enabling energy generation from renewable sources like solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass.
