Promoting renewable energy in South Africa: an overview of recent legal and policy developments

Abstract

Energy is crucial to all aspects of human life, including economic development. Nowhere is this more apparent than in South Africa where insufficient energy supply is costing the economy a great deal. Internationally and in South Africa energy is generated primarily from polluting and non-renewable fossil fuels. In light of concerns including over climate change, sustainability and security of energy supply, more reliance is being placed on the generation of energy from other sources including renewable sources. The South African government has recognised the importance of this, as reflected in policy documents and government rhetoric over the last two decades. Momentum has been gained in recent years, notably through the introduction of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) in 2011. This article provides an overview of the development of renewable energy policy in South Africa, focusing on the REIPPPP and its effectiveness thus far. While the adoption of the REIPPPP was controversial, there are certain success factors and lessons have started to emerge. Nevertheless, it is still early days and it is important that the REIPPP Programme be monitored so that further lessons can be drawn to inform future decisions regarding the effective promotion of renewable energy in South Africa.

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ORCID for Louise Du Toit: orcid.org/0000-0003-4186-5812

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