{"id":50878,"date":"2025-04-15T10:35:08","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T10:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/?p=50878"},"modified":"2025-04-16T09:09:17","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T09:09:17","slug":"south-africa-finally-has-a-masterplan-for-a-renewable-energy-industry-heres-what-it-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/builder\/south-africa-finally-has-a-masterplan-for-a-renewable-energy-industry-heres-what-it-says\/","title":{"rendered":"South Africa finally has a masterplan for a renewable energy industry: here\u2019s what it says"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post<\/a> was originally published on this site<\/a><\/p>

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What is the South African Renewable Enery Masterplan?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is an industrial strategy that sets out how South Africa can set up a new manufacturing industry in renewable energy and battery storage value chains.<\/p>\n

The masterplan was developed by the government, some sections of organised labour, <\/span>a non-profit organisation<\/a> <\/span>advocating for renewable energy, and representatives of the renewable energy industries. It sets out a framework to produce renewable technologies locally. These include solar photovoltaic panels, wind turbines and batteries.<\/p>\n

The masterplan has been drawn up so that it aligns with South Africa\u2019s existing national target of adding 3\u20135 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity each year to 2030. This is a scale that can support the development of local manufacturing hubs. (One gigawatt can supply electricity to about 700 000 average homes.) This steady supply will be enough to give businesses and investors the confidence to commit to long-term investments in <\/span>local manufacturing hubs<\/a>. These are zones where renewable systems and components are produced or assembled for domestic and export markets.<\/p>\n

The state-owned electricity company, Eskom, has not directly guaranteed that it will buy 3-5 gigawatts of renewable energy each year. But the government\u2019s national electricity plan (the <\/span>Integrated Resource Plan<\/a>) provides a strong indication of future demand.<\/p>\n

The <\/span>masterplan<\/a> also aims to <\/span>attract at least R15 billion in investment<\/a> by 2030 and train \u201cgreen workers\u201d for employment in 25 000 direct jobs. These roles range from factory work and logistics to engineering and construction. Many will be for youth and semi-skilled workers.<\/span><\/p>\n

South Africa already has a <\/span>Just Transition Framework<\/a> <\/span>to ensure that the shift to a low-carbon economy is fair, and does not leave workers, communities or regions behind. The masterplan is aligned with this. It aims to support Black-owned companies and small-scale and community-based initiatives, especially in places affected by the looming loss of jobs in the coal industry.<\/p>\n

However, it is not a response to the country\u2019s frequent power cuts and won\u2019t decide how electricity is generated. Energy system plans like the integrated resource plan and <\/span>Energy Action Plan<\/a> <\/span>do this. (They focus on power generation, securing a constant energy supply, and <\/span>expanding the electricity grid<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Why should South Africa manufacture renewable energy systems?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2023 alone, the country <\/span>spent over R17.5bn<\/a> <\/span>on solar and battery imports.<\/p>\n

This is unnecessary because South Africa sits on reserves of manganese, vanadium, platinum and other rare earth elements. These are the critical ingredients for manufacturing clean energy systems and storage, which could be made locally.<\/p>\n

South Africa already produces solar panels, steel towers for wind turbines, and electrical cabling. Some local firms also assemble inverters and <\/span>balance-of-system technologies<\/a> <\/span>used in solar and battery systems. The potential to grow renewable energy industries is there.<\/p>\n

How will South Africa set up these new industries?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Factories making solar, wind and battery storage components will be financed through private sector investment and government incentives and support. These include tax breaks, localisation requirements, and support in <\/span>special economic zones<\/a>. As manufacturing demand increases, expansion is planned into offshore wind and <\/span>next-generation (longer duration) batteries<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Between now and 2030, the masterplan has these aims:<\/p>\n