Omoseni Oyindamola Adepoju’s research while affiliated with University of Johannesburg and other places

This study advances the application of blockchain technology within renewable energy systems (RES) Projects for energy security. Employing a mixed research method involving Bibliometric analysis for the qualitative and quantitative methodology includes Mean Response Ranking and Structural Equation Modelling, using SPSS and SMATPLS software for analysis. The bibliometric analysis on blockchain technology and renewable energy systems was tailored towards different dimensions of energy security while establishing two clusters: the potential of blockchain technology's application in renewable energy and its application in electric power transmission. Furthermore, the study highlights social factors, particularly social sustainability, as the most influential CSF for the success of renewable energy projects. Additionally, it reveals that Blockchain technology positively moderates the relationship between critical success factors and project success criteria of renewable energy projects. The study concludes that optimising Renewable Energy with Blockchain technology requires balancing social and technical systems based on sociotechnical system theory.

This chapter provides comprehensive insights into the theories underpinning the water, energy, and food (WEF) nexus. The theories are the securitization theory, Malthusian theory of population, game theory, institutional theory, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT). The chapter dealt with each of these theories, generating different approaches and strategies for using these theories for resource security and sustainability. The securitization theory generated five (5) questions for robust resource security and sustainability. Preventive checks and resource planning were encouraged in the Malthusian Theory of Population against the Malthusian Catastrophe and Malthusian Cycle. In the game theory, the chapter espoused the applicability of non-cooperative and cooperative games, the use of extensive games, and the importance of information and interest holders within resource games for resource victory. In the Institutional Theory, the chapter recommended four (4) applicability aspects: the sectoral policy, human resource capacity development for nexus thinking, global imitation and local implementation, and stakeholder Management. Moreover, the chapter contextualized the five (5) qualities of IDT to the WEF nexus and recommended the conformance of innovation to social sustainability. Also, the chapter analyzed the perceived ease of use (PEU) and the Perceived Usefulness (PU) of the Technology Acceptance Model within the WEF nexus. The chapter also explained the differences between the Innovation Diffusion Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model as they relate to the WEF nexus, which entails focus and scope, end users, and the context of adoption. The chapter ended with developing a theoretical synthesis model for WEF nexus security and sustainability. This model integrates and explains the significant insights of the six (6) theories and how they aid resource security and sustainability.

This chapter explores the four research gaps within the water, energy, and food (WEF) nexus frameworks initiated within the last ten years. The chapter explores the concepts of Cleaner Production, Value Chain Analysis, Circular Economy, and Transportation Infrastructure. It provided a conceptual review of the gaps, their principles, and their approaches, as well as a discourse into the measures of the gaps. Moreover, the chapter espoused the application of the Four gaps within the Water, Energy, and Food nexus, highlighting the role of Digital Technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in optimizing the WEF nexus for sustainable resource security. The chapter highlighted how digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain Technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) technology, Virtual/Augmented Reality Technology, and Digital Twin can aid in generating and optimizing real-time data for diagnosing, preventive, predictive, and prescriptive capabilities. The chapter concluded that the four gaps encompass different sustainability dimensions, buttressing the goal of the WEF nexus in ensuring sustainable resource security.

The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus is a paradigm that emphasises the interconnectedness and collaborative effects of water, energy, and food systems. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of South Africa's WEF nexus research landscape between 2011 and 2024 using the Scopus database. The article highlights the interconnectedness of sustainable development, resource management, sustainability challenges, and resilience strategies in the WEF Nexus in South Africa. The study also identifies critical research gaps in addressing socio-economic dimensions, policy and governance aspects, technological innovation, and human resource development within the WEF Nexus framework. The article reveals the transformative potential of blockchain technology in revolutionising resource management in South Africa. By leveraging blockchain's decentralised and transparent nature, the country can enhance efficiency, transparency, and sustainability in resource allocation and distribution.