Renewable Energy – GreenCape Market Intelligence Report 2015

The Renewable Energy – GreenCape Market Intelligence Report 2015 provides an overview of the renewable energy (RE) landscape in South Africa, focusing on the utility-scale Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), as well as commercial, industrial, and residential small-scale embedded generation (SSEG). It highlights the role of the Western Cape as a hub for RE manufacturing and the critical need for an updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to provide investor certainty.

• The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), established in 2011, has procured over 5,000 MW across four bidding rounds. As of the report's writing, 32 projects were operational, contributing approximately 1,500 MW to the national grid.
• The REIPPPP has achieved significant reductions in tariffs. For solar PV, the average bid price dropped from 275.8 RSA c/kWh in Round 1 to 78.6 RSA c/kWh in Round 4, a total reduction of 71.5%. Wind energy prices decreased from 114.3 RSA c/kWh in Round 1 to 62.0 RSA c/kWh in Round 4, a total reduction of 45.8%.
• The Western Cape is positioning itself as a manufacturing hub for RE components, specifically through the proposed greentech Manufacturing Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Atlantis. Major companies established in the province include Jinko Solar (PV panels), Gestamp Renewable Industries (wind towers), and SMA Solar Technology South Africa (inverters).
• The commercial and industrial RE market is primarily driven by rooftop solar PV with capacities typically under 1 MWp. This growth is motivated by a need for energy security and the mitigation of rising electricity costs, which increased from an average of 30c/kWh in 2008 to approximately 70c/kWh in 2014.
• A critical barrier to long-term investment and manufacturing growth in the South African RE sector is the lack of a timely update to the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2010–2030, which creates uncertainty for investors.
• The South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC), established by GIZ and CPUT, provides essential technical training for solar PV and wind turbine technicians to support the long-term operation and maintenance of RE projects, which often have lifespans exceeding 25 years.

APA

GreenCape (2015). Renewable Energy – GreenCape Market Intelligence Report 2015. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GreenCape-Market-Intelligence-Report-2015-Renewable-Energy-3.pdf

Chicago

GreenCape. Renewable Energy – GreenCape Market Intelligence Report 2015. 2015. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GreenCape-Market-Intelligence-Report-2015-Renewable-Energy-3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=GreenCape |title=Renewable Energy – GreenCape Market Intelligence Report 2015 |date=2015 |url=https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GreenCape-Market-Intelligence-Report-2015-Renewable-Energy-3.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greencape2015renewable, author = {{GreenCape}}, title = {{Renewable Energy – GreenCape Market Intelligence Report 2015}}, institution = {GreenCape}, year = {2015}, url = {https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GreenCape-Market-Intelligence-Report-2015-Renewable-Energy-3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }