Our work in South Africa

Over 100 RE100 members report operations in South Africa. Corporates are the largest consumer of electricity in the country, making them critical to South Africa's energy transition.

South Africa has a 2050 net zero target yet coal dominates the country's current power mix, wind and solar accounted for just 13% of South Africa's electricity generation in 2024. RE100 members source only 12% of their electricity from renewables in South Africa, compared to 53% for RE100 member electricity use globally.

In 2023, Investec joined RE100 as our first South African member. We're searching for more members from South Africa to join us and help accelerate South Africa's energy transition. Is your company interested in joining RE100? Start the process here.

RE100's policy recommendations for South Africa

We've set out five policy recommendations which seek to increase access to renewable electricity, enhance energy security, reduce energy costs, and unleash jobs and green economic growth in South Africa. Launched in July 2025 in collaboration with our local partner in South Africa, National Business Initiative (NBI), the recommendations are designed to help the South African government speed up electricity market reforms, set clear renewable energy goals and make it easier for companies to buy clean power directly.

Recent policy updates

A group of 14 leading businesses in South Africa, RE100 and NBI, wrote to the Minister for Electricity and Energy in November 2025, urging policy action in line with RE100 and NBI's South Africa policy recommendations. The letter calls on the Minister to improve access to renewables, in order to unlock corporate investment in South Africa’s energy transition.
In October 2024, RE100 was in South Africa to meet with members and to host a workshop in Johannesburg on renewable electricity policy in South Africa. Members such as PepsiCo, Siemens AG, Vodafone Group, AB InBev, and HEINEKEN attended. RE100 also met with representatives from the President’s office, the Ministry of Energy and Electricity, and the South African Local Government Association to share our plans to convene a South Africa Policy Working Group and to develop policy recommendations to support corporate renewables procurement in South Africa.
Published in December 2023, this report by RE100 looks at common policy barriers hampering the rollout of renewables in some of the world’s biggest economies, including South Africa. The barriers identified in this report fall under three common themes, the availability of renewable electricity, the accessibility of this electricity for corporate use, and the affordability of renewable electricity. The report provides recommendations that would break down these barriers, enabling countries to seize the economic opportunities of the energy transition.

Previous policy successes

At COP28, in December 2023, RE100 was pleased to speak at the South African pavilion on how South Africa can break down barriers and seize the opportunities of renewable electricity.
In 2021 we established RAiSE (Renewables Ambition in South African Electricity) at COP26 alongside the NBI, and World Business Council for Sustainable Development. RAiSE brings together South African companies with stakeholders from across the energy sector, to drive much-needed change in the nation’s energy system. Learn more about RAiSE here.

In South Africa, we work in collaboration with our local partner National Business Initiative (NBI).

To speak to our team about getting involved in our policy work in South Africa, please contact us.

Our work in South Africa

RE100's policy recommendations for South Africa

Recent policy updates

Previous policy successes

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