The ENERGISE Centre will co-design and implement three complementary Living Labs, each tailored to a specific challenge of the JET and embedded in different socio-technicalcontexts in South Africa:
- Mini-Grid Living Lab (Rural and Peri-Urban Areas): The ENERGISE Centre will implement two complementary Mini-Grid Living Labs as real-world test beds to bridge theory and practice for a JET. The rural Living Lab, led by the University of Venda, will co-create decentralised, affordable energy solutions with local communities in underserved areas. The peri-urban Living Lab, led by Wits, will focus on innovative mini-grid models for dense township contexts, addressing affordability, informal markets, and grid stability. Together, they demonstrate scalable, community-driven pathways for decentralised, renewable energy systems in South Africa.
- Policy Living Lab for gradual and inclusive Market Liberalization: A space for collaborative experimentation with regulatory frameworks and policy instruments. It brings together government agencies, regulators, independent power producers, and researchers to explore inclusive models of grid access, tariff structures, and decentralized energy governance.
- Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Living Lab: Hosted at the Tshwane University of Technology, this Lab serves as a physical and virtual platform for innovation, enterprise incubation, and interdisciplinary education. It connects students, start-ups, and local partners to design and test sustainable business models aligned with the JET.