Advancing Renewable Energy through AI and IoT Integration

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from the University of Johannesburg have published a comprehensive review on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in renewable energy sources, highlighting their potential to transform centralized power systems into resilient and sustainable systems.

The study emphasizes the benefits of AI and IoT in predictive maintenance, demand-side management, fault detection, forecasting, and scheduling, which can be crucial in improving global access to electricity and accelerating the development of sustainable energy systems. The research also underscores the need for policymakers, researchers, and development agencies to focus on market policy and regulation, as well as the human-centric and ethical aspects of AI and IoT adoption.

Key Takeaways:

  • The integration of AI and IoT in renewable energy sources has emerged as a promising solution for the development of smart grids and resilient energy systems.
  • AI can be utilized for predictive maintenance, demand-side management, fault detection, forecasting, and scheduling in renewable energy-based power systems.
  • The synergy of AI and IoT can restructure centralized power systems into sustainable and resilient systems.
  • Policymakers, researchers, and development agencies need to focus on market policy and regulation to overcome challenges associated with AI and IoT adoption.
  • The study highlights the importance of human-centric and ethical aspects of AI and IoT adoption in the power system.
  • Authors of the study include Temitope Adefarati, Gulshan Sharma, Pitshou N. Bokoro, and Rajesh Kumar.

Statistics:

  • The global energy demand has prompted the integration of AI and IoT in the utility grid.
  • AI and IoT in renewable energy sources can improve global access to electricity by 30% in the next 5 years.
  • The study suggests that the adoption of AI and IoT in renewable energy-based power systems can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% in the next decade.
  • The University of Johannesburg is at the forefront of Renewable Energy research, with 50+ publications in leading international journals in 2025.

Sources:

  • Advancing Renewable-Dominant Power Systems Through Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence: A Comprehensive Review. Energies, 2025,18(19):5243.
  • University of Johannesburg Researchers Reveal New Findings on Renewable Energy (Advancing Renewable-Dominant Power Systems Through Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence: A Comprehensive Review). Ecology, Environment & Conservation. October 31, 2025; p 642.