What is clear is that there is serious strain on South Africa’s energy security and the ongoing electrification crisis reinforces the need for a low carbon pathway that delivers jobs, economic growth, and social benefits. While the government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPPP) and other policies have catalysed a shift in the energy market, the transition to renewable energy is not happening at the speed and with the urgency required.
As fossil fuel industries and infrastructure reach the end of their historical cycle, renewable energy should become a pivot for South Africa’s industrial development. At present, roughly 85 per cent of electricity is generated by coal-fired power plants.
