NUST and TUT Explore AI-Enabled Energy Solutions

NUST and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) are exploring synergies to pursue collaborative multi-disciplinary research focused on low-carbon energy solutions. This partnership is being spearheaded by NUST’s Namibia Energy Institute (NEI) and TUT’s Hub of the AI Institute of South Africa (AIISA). Both institutions are committed to harnessing innovative technology to drive sustainable development, particularly in the energy sector. 

The NEI, led by Dr Andreas Elombo, serves as a national research hub for sustainable energy use and management in Namibia, covering aspects of renewable energy, oil and gas, and nuclear energy. “At the NEI, we conduct research to support policies and technology development in the energy sector in support of the low-carbon energy transition, ensuring that our economy makes a shift from hydrocarbon-heavy energy sources to low-carbon energy sources in a sustainable way,” Dr Elombo emphasised. With its four specialised centres, the NEI is well-positioned to benefit from AI-driven techniques to achieve overall energy efficiency through intelligent operation and management of the energy system. 

Left to right: Dr Andreas Elombo, Director: NEI; Prof Anish Kurien, Acting Director: TUT Hub of AIISA; Dr Vathiswa Papu-Zamxaka, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement; and Helvi Illeka, Centre Head: Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at NEI.
Left to right: Dr Andreas Elombo, Director: NEI; Prof Anish Kurien, Acting Director: TUT Hub of AIISA; Dr Vathiswa Papu-Zamxaka, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement; and Helvi Illeka, Centre Head: Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at NEI.

 

Professor Anish Kurien, Acting Director of the TUT’s Hub of AIISA, highlighted AI’s potential to transform the energy sector. “Artificial intelligence can optimise power generation, enhance grid stability, and improve decision-making in fair and reliable energy distribution. Organisations must start integrating AI as a core function,” he stated. The TUT AI Hub is already focusing on AI applications in sectors such as health, agriculture, and manufacturing, making energy the next logical frontier for collaboration. 

The partnership between NEI and the TUT Hub of AIISA could pave the way for research and practical applications in AI-enabled renewable energy forecasting, smart grid technologies, and sustainable energy management. With Namibia’s growing investment in low-carbon energy technologies (e.g., solar and wind energy, green hydrogen, energy-efficient appliances, etc.), integrating AI techniques in the mainstream energy sector could help maximise energy efficiency and sustainability. 

As NUST and TUT continue collaboration discussions, the potential for joint projects, capacity-building, and policy-driven research remains high. “Collaboration is key in tackling the complex challenges of scaling green energy and smart energy technologies,” Dr Elombo added. “By combining NEI’s expertise with AI-driven solutions from TUT, we can make a transformative impact on the future of equitable, universal access to sustainable energy.”