RE100 – NBI: South Africa policy recommendations for renewable electricity

Urgent policy reform is needed to unlock South Africa’s renewables potential and to increase corporate investment in the country.

RE100 and our local partner in South Africa, National Business Initiative (NBI), are calling on the South African government to speed up electricity market reforms, set clear renewable energy goals and make it easier for companies to buy clean power directly.

The 'RE100 – NBI: South Africa policy recommendations' seek to increase access to renewable electricity, enhance energy security, reduce energy costs, and unleash jobs and green economic growth in South Africa. They ask the government to:

Accelerate electricity market reform to enable competitive renewables procurement.
Strengthen integrated planning and renewable energy-based electricity targets to guide investment.
Enable and scale direct corporate procurement through wheeling and standardised Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
Fast-track the roll-out of transmission infrastructure and grid connections, and streamline project approvals.
Expand voluntary green power options.

Read the full recommendations document below for further detail and sub recommendations.

South Africa has made important recent renewables progress through the Energy Action Plan, the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act, and the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM). However, full implementation of these plans, greater collaboration between the public and private sectors, and further reforms are essential to meet the country’s net zero goals.

Corporates, like RE100 members, stand ready to invest in the country’s energy transition. The private sector is the leading consumer of electricity in the country, and over 100 RE100 members work in South Africa.

A recent Powering Up Business poll surveying 104 South African businesses across multiple economic sectors found that 95% of business executives in South Africa think that government should transition away from fossil fuels to a renewables-based electricity system, and 80% would rather the government prioritise renewable electricity investments over new fossil fuel financing.

These recommendations are based on inputs from the private sector, cities, provinces, technical experts, industry bodies and key national policymakers.

Click here to learn more about RE100's work in South Africa.