Despite a continuing electricity crisis from its coal-fired sources, in recent years South Africa has become one of the leading destinations for renewable energy investment. This is thanks to the launch of its renewable energy independent power producers’ programme for which an estimated $14 billion/R168 billion has been committed thus far and approximately 4 GW of utility-scale renewable energy capacity approved. The programme is unique in that it in order for projects to qualify, developers must commit to undertake requirements for community ownership and economic development benefits in a country with gross socio-economic inequality.

Copyright: Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town, UCT, Cape Town.

Weblinks: http://www.erc.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/image_tool/images/119/Papers-2015/15-Baker-Wlokas-RE_frontier.pdf

https://www.africaportal.org/publications/south-africas-renewable-energy-procurement-a-new-frontier/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274952345_South_Africa%27s_renewable_energy_procurement_a_new_frontier

https://sawea.org.za/sa-s-renewable-energy-procurement-a-new-frontier/