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“Without proper planning and management, however, economic transitions leave behind ghost towns, broken livelihoods and social upheaval”
South Africa needs to prepare its people for the significant opportunities provided by the just energy transition.
This is according to the National Business Initiative’s (NBI) latest report, looking into a detailed, fact-based perspective on the potential jobs and skills required to execute South Africa’s energy transition. It also looks at how the country can ensure that the investment in jobs and skills is just and inclusive.
The report states that now until 2030, the jobs anticipated are heavily anchored on the current project pipeline and the level of certainty.
Zooming in on solar, the report states that in the next five years, 45–50% of the total job demand will come from solar.
“Of all the renewable energy technologies explored, solar is the most advanced in South Africa, with 8GW of solar already online.
“The modular nature of the technology and the country’s high solar irradiance support the quick expansion of solar projects and the strong pipeline we currently see.”
It notes that the solar utility pipeline up to 2030 can expect to create 55,600–93,400 gross jobs.
“Most of the jobs are in the construction (47,100) and installation and connection (17,700) parts of the value chain. The labourer job family (36,200) is the most prominent, particularly construction and low-skilled site workers, followed by artisans (13,400) and engineers (12,400).”
Projects are concentrated in Gauteng, the North-West, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape.
Just energy transition opportunities to benefit South Africa’s workforce
Touching on wind energy, the report states that the sector’s project pipeline up to 2030 is expected to create 22,300–35,700 gross jobs.
“Most of the jobs are in the construction (20,500) and end-of-life (6,100) parts of the value chain given the significant size of these projects and the complexity of erecting and decommissioning turbines.
As with solar, the labourer job family (15,700) is the most prominent, particularly construction workers, plant operators, and semi-skilled machine operators. It is followed by technicians (6,000) and business support (3,300).
Given their optimal wind energy resources, projects are concentrated in the Eastern, Western, and Northern Capes.
For the green hydrogen and ammonia sector, the report reveals a small sector that supports job creation in the related renewable energy inputs.
According to the report, a project pipeline up to 2030 is expected to translate into 7,800–13,800 gross jobs.
“Most of the jobs will emerge during end-of-life (5,500) and construction (4,900), in line with the expectation for large capex projects.
“As in solar and wind sectors, most of the jobs will be in the labourer job family (6,400), particularly construction workers and semiskilled machine operators. This is followed by engineers (1,800) and business support (1,500) jobs.”
Projects are concentrated in the west of the country, particularly in the Northern, Western and Eastern Capes.
On battery storage, the report indicates an outlook for a small sector that requires highly skilled workers:
“Over 97% of the jobs are found in operations and maintenance (1,500). The scientist job family (800) dominates, particularly in data analysis and managing battery efficiency; it is followed by engineers (500) and business support (100) jobs,” the report said.
Projects are spread throughout the country, with concentrations in Gauteng, the Free State and key cities.
For the transmission sector, the report points to the negative impact of stop-start deployment of the national transmission programme. The sector’s project pipeline is expected to create 7,300–13,400 gross jobs.
“The majority of these will be created in manufacturing and assembly (3,700) and construction (1,400), in line with South Africa’s well-established manufacturing capacities in the transmission sector.
The largest demand is in the labourer job family (2,700), particularly construction workers and semi-skilled machine operators; followed by the engineering (1,700) and business support (1,400) job families.”
Projects are spread across the country with hotspots in Mpumalanga, the Eastern, Western and Northern Capes and metropolitan areas.
NBI emphasises the importance of skilling transition. “These new opportunities can be a source of dynamism, innovation, and growth if they are executed in a just manner that allows all people to participate.
“Without proper planning and management, however, economic transitions leave behind ghost towns, broken livelihoods, and social upheaval,” they stated. |
