# Opportunities of Reinforcement Learning in South Africa's Just Transition

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.15145 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2411.15145/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Placed in RL for energy, networks and operations, one of 15 directions in Deep reinforcement learning methods.
- Builds on 17 of its 56 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 6 Nov 2024.

## Placed in

- Deep reinforcement learning methods / [RL for energy, networks and operations](https://mlsanity.com/deeprl/rl-for-energy-networks-and-operations/)

## Builds on (most cited first, 17 of 17)

- [Scaling Laws for Neural Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2001.08361/) (2020)
- [Zero-Shot Text-to-Image Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.12092/) (2021)
- [Offline Reinforcement Learning: Tutorial, Review, and Perspectives on Open Problems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.01643/) (2020)
- [Dota 2 with Large Scale Deep Reinforcement Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1912.06680/) (2019)
- [Sim-to-Real Transfer in Deep Reinforcement Learning for Robotics: a Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2009.13303/) (2020)
- [Deep Reinforcement Learning: An Overview](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1701.07274/) (2017)
- [Deep Reinforcement Learning for Intelligent Transportation Systems: A Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.00935/) (2020)
- [Flatland-RL : Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning on Trains](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2012.05893/) (2020)
- [CropGym: a Reinforcement Learning Environment for Crop Management](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.04326/) (2021)
- [Power Grid Congestion Management via Topology Optimization with AlphaZero](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2211.05612/) (2022)
- [gym-DSSAT: a crop model turned into a Reinforcement Learning environment](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2207.03270/) (2022)
- [A SWAT-based Reinforcement Learning Framework for Crop Management](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.04988/) (2023)
- [Optimizing Irrigation Efficiency using Deep Reinforcement Learning in the Field](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.01435/) (2023)
- [Deep Reinforcement Learning for Electric Transmission Voltage Control](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.06728/) (2020)
- [A Comparative Study of Algorithms for Intelligent Traffic Signal Control](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2109.00937/) (2021)
- [DeepFreight: Integrating Deep Reinforcement Learning and Mixed Integer Programming for Multi-transfer Truck Freight Delivery](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2103.03450/) (2021)
- [Reinforcement Learning and Tree Search Methods for the Unit Commitment Problem](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2212.06001/) (2022)

## Abstract (arXiv)

South Africa stands at a crucial juncture, grappling with interwoven socio-economic challenges such as poverty, inequality, unemployment, and the looming climate crisis. The government's Just Transition framework aims to enhance climate resilience, achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and promote social inclusion and poverty eradication. According to the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution, artificial intelligence technologies offer significant promise in addressing these challenges. This paper explores the overlooked potential of Reinforcement Learning (RL) in supporting South Africa's Just Transition. It examines how RL can enhance agriculture and land-use practices, manage complex, decentralised energy networks, and optimise transportation and logistics, thereby playing a critical role in achieving a just and equitable transition to a low-carbon future for all South Africans. We provide a roadmap as to how other researchers in the field may be able to contribute to these pressing problems.