A Systematic Review on the Application of the Living Lab Concept and Role of Stakeholders in the Energy Sector

Sphokazi Phelokazi Mbatha () and Josephine Kaviti Musango
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Sphokazi Phelokazi Mbatha: School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
Josephine Kaviti Musango: Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 21, 1-20

Abstract: The living lab concept is identified as having the potential to provide a platform to test technologies and support energy transition. However, the application of the concept to the energy sector is limited, though emerging. This study undertook a systematic literature review to understand the extent of the application of the living lab concept, with the particular aim of informing the processes to establish such a platform in urban Africa. Using a sample of 35 papers, only 17 papers were related to energy-living labs, while 18 papers were outside the energy field. The scale and contexts of the application of living labs were diverse. However, not all initiatives that defined themselves as living labs were characterised by elements typical of the concept of a living lab. Further, how the stakeholders were identified, and the stakeholder recruitment process in energy living labs was unclear in the sampled studies. A recommendation is to improve transparency in the stakeholder identification, engagement, and recruitment process in energy living labs and to incorporate gendered issues into the setup and management of urban energy living labs.

Keywords: energy living lab; energy transition; sustainability; gender; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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