| Work Detail |
RE growth has helped alleviate the challenges presented by loadshedding The Department of Electricity and Energy is set to launch a key SAREM (South African Renewable Energy Masterplan) initiative later today (Tuesday, 4 March). The Power Up platform is designed to bridge the gap between industry needs and education in South Africa. It will work with higher education institutions to ensure training courses align with the demands of the renewable energy sector. The aim is to provide young South Africans with clear career pathways into this industry. The announcement was made earlier today at the opening of the Solar Power Africa conference in Cape Town by South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Samantha Graham-Maré. Maré said that for more than a decade, South Africa has battled with loadshedding, a crisis that has constrained economic growth and daily life. Yet, she said, adversity often breeds innovation and opportunity. Renewable energy output in combatting loadshedding Recognising that the government alone could not resolve the energy crisis, South Africa established the Independent Power Producers (IPP) Office and the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). These initiatives encouraged private investment in renewable energy, with the dual goal of expanding electricity capacity and reducing energy costs, said Graham-Maré. “Over 10 years, the REIPPPP has added more than 7GW of renewable energy to the grid, with another 21GW in the pipeline.” Rooftop solar installations by businesses and households have further contributed, adding an estimated 10GW of capacity. The Deputy Minister said this surge in renewable energy has played a key role in South Africa’s energy recovery, reducing loadshedding. But she was quick to temper that sense of optimism. “We are not out of the woods yet. Our system remains constrained and Eskom is balancing a delicate act. But we have a clear path to energy security and stability.” The focus is now shifting beyond merely ending loadshedding to ensuring universal access to energy, addressing the municipal debt crisis and implementing the just energy transition. Government programmes nudging renewable energy progress in South Africa Through initiatives such as Operation Vulindlela and the National Energy Crisis Committee, public-private partnerships are unlocking new opportunities in the sector, she said. Graham-Maré said legislative reforms have also been instrumental. She highlighted the amendment of the Electricity Regulation Act, which raised the threshold for small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) from 1MW to 100MWs, has facilitated unprecedented growth. “South Africans are increasingly embracing solar energy, making components like inverters and lithium-ion batteries household staples. “In 2024 alone, South Africa imported R26 billion worth of solar panels, inverters, and batteries…,” said Graham-Maré. |
