Renewable Energy: Facts and Futures

The report examines South Africa's renewable energy landscape, highlighting the success of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REI4P) in attracting R195 billion in investment and creating 26,790 jobs. It argues that South Africa possesses world-class solar and wind resources that could allow for a 70% renewable energy share by 2040, reducing costs and emissions. However, the document identifies significant barriers, primarily the state utility Eskom's reluctance to sign power purchase agreements and a historical path-dependency on coal. It also discusses the rise of rooftop photovoltaics and the necessity of a 'just transition' to protect workers in the coal sector.

• South Africa has immense theoretical wind and solar potential; the CSIR suggests that only 0.6% of the land mass would be needed for wind farms to meet the current annual electrical demand of 250 TWh.
• The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REI4P) has attracted R195 billion in investment, with 25% from foreign investors and R31.6 billion from state-owned enterprises and development finance institutions.
• The REI4P has delivered significant socio-economic benefits, including the creation of 26,790 jobs over three years and the procurement of R65.5 billion from B-BBEE firms.
• CSIR research indicates that a re-optimised electricity mix with a 70% share of renewables by 2040 would be the lowest-cost option, reducing annual costs by R90 billion compared to the base case.
• Eskom's role as a vertically integrated monopoly creates a barrier to renewable energy growth, evidenced by its refusal to sign off-take agreements with independent power producers from certain bid windows.
• South Africa's energy sector is characterized by a strong path-dependency on coal, which is deeply intertwined with the economy through the Minerals Energy Complex (MEC).
• Rooftop photovoltaic (PV) installations are increasing due to falling costs and rising electricity tariffs, with estimated installations reaching 218 MWp by the end of 2016.
• The transition to renewable energy must be a 'just transition' to address poverty and inequality, specifically providing alternatives for workers in the coal mining and transportation sectors.

APA

Scholtz, L., Muluadzi, K., Kritzinger, K., Mabaso, M., & Forder, S. (2017). Renewable Energy: Facts and Futures. WWF South Africa. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/WWF_2017_Renewable_Energy_Facts_and_Futures_Final.pdf

Chicago

Scholtz, Louise, Khodani Muluadzi, Karin Kritzinger, Mbali Mabaso, and Stephen Forder. Renewable Energy: Facts and Futures. WWF South Africa, 2017. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/WWF_2017_Renewable_Energy_Facts_and_Futures_Final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Scholtz |first1=Louise |last2=Muluadzi |first2=Khodani |last3=Kritzinger |first3=Karin |last4=Mabaso |first4=Mbali |last5=Forder |first5=Stephen |title=Renewable Energy: Facts and Futures |publisher=WWF South Africa |date=2017 |url=https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/WWF_2017_Renewable_Energy_Facts_and_Futures_Final.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{scholtz2017renewable, author = {Scholtz, Louise and Muluadzi, Khodani and Kritzinger, Karin and Mabaso, Mbali and Forder, Stephen}, title = {{Renewable Energy: Facts and Futures}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, year = {2017}, url = {https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/WWF_2017_Renewable_Energy_Facts_and_Futures_Final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }