Renewable Energy Consumption and Carbon Emissions in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Moderating Role of Institutional Quality

Renewable Energy Consumption and Carbon Emissions in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Moderating Role of Institutional Quality

Peter Mwai Kinuthia^1,2, Issacs K Kemboi¹, James Onyango¹, Muyiwa Samuel Adaramola^1,3

¹Department of Economics School of Business and Economics, Moi University, Kenya

²Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources Management Norwegian University of Life Sciences, As, Norway

³Department of Mechanical, Production and Energy Engineering School of Engineering, Moi University, Kenya

Publication Information

Journal Title: International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS)
Author(s): Kinuthia, Peter Mwai ; Kemboi, Issacs K; Onyango, James ; Adaramola, Muyiwa Samuel
Published On: 08/22/2025
Volume: 9
Issue: 5
First Page: 4257
Last Page: 4270
ISSN: 2454-6186

Cite this Article Kinuthia, Peter Mwai ; Kemboi, Issacs K; Onyango, James ; Adaramola, Muyiwa Samuel; Renewable Energy Consumption and Carbon Emissions in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Moderating Role of Institutional Quality, Volume 9 Issue 5, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS),4257-4270, Published on 08/22/2025, Available at https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/renewable-energy-consumption-and-carbon-emissions-in-sub-saharan-africa-the-moderating-role-of-institutional-quality/

Abstract

This paper empirically investigates the effect of renewable energy consumption, institutional quality, and their interaction on carbon emissions in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, while controlling for foreign direct investment, industrialization, and population growth. The study analyzed a balanced panel of 839 country-year observations from 24 countries covering the period 2000–2023. A fixed effects model was employed to examine the relationships and test the moderating role of institutional quality. Results indicated that renewable energy consumption had a significant negative relationship with carbon emissions, reinforcing its role in mitigating environmental degradation. Institutional quality also demonstrated a strong negative relationship with emissions, underscoring the role of governance in environmental performance. Importantly, the interaction between renewable energy and institutional quality further enhanced the negative effect on carbon emissions, indicating that the effectiveness of renewable energy initiatives is significantly enhanced in the presence of strong institutions. The findings of this study contribute to the growing empirical literature on the relationship between renewable energy consumption, institutional quality, and environmental sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, they offer critical policy insights for governments, development partners, and energy stakeholders. Given the significant negative relationship between renewable energy consumption and carbon emissions, policymakers should intensify efforts to expand renewable energy infrastructure and adoption. The amplifying effect of institutional quality highlights the urgency of governance reforms to support enforcement, transparency, and accountability in energy transitions.

Keywords: Renewable energy consumption, institutional quality, sub-Saharan Africa, carbon emissions