Wind energy in South Africa

Join Brenda Martin, CEO of South African Wind Energy Association, and Steve Sawyer, Senior Policy Advisor at Global Wind Energy Council, for our ‘Doing Business In … South Africa’ webcast on Tuesday 9 October at 15h CEST.

South Africa’s competitive tender process (Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REI4P)) was launched by the Department of Energy (DoE) to facilitate private sector investment into grid-connected renewable energy (RE) supply. Since 2011, Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have been invited to submit bids for onshore wind, solar PV, concentrated solar power (CSP), small hydro, biomass, biogas or landfill gas projects. Between 2011 and 2015 four such rounds of competitive bidding, referred to as bid windows (BWs), have been completed. Bid tariffs have fallen sharply over the course of the programme and the most recently awarded projects are amongst the lowest priced grid-connected RE projects in the world.

To date, over 6 000 MW of renewable power has been procured from 112 independent power producers through 7 competitive bid rounds in South Africa. Wind makes up 52% of procured capacity, with a total investment value of R74.7 billion, and has established a track record as the best value for money utility-scale renewable power option.

Following a 2-year hiatus in private procurement, the REI4P has been resumed since April 2018, and the country’s new President has confirmed a renewed commitment to growing domestic investment. Given that the country is now behind on its renewable energy investment targets, SAWEA is lobbying for the next procurement bid round to be announced in 2019.

In conversation with Steve Sawyer, Brenda will discuss the current context, opportunities and challenges faced by companies wishing to set up and sustain their wind-related business in South Africa. Steve will provide an update on global markets.

The audience will hear about:

The presentations will be followed by a Q&A with Brenda and Steve.

Steve Sawyer, Secretary General of GWEC, has worked in the energy and environment field since 1978, with a particular focus on climate change and renewable energy since 1988. He spent many years working for Greenpeace International, representing the organization at intergovernmental and industry fora primarily on energy and climate issues. At GWEC he is focused on working with intergovernmental organisations such as the UNFCCC, IPCC, IRENA, IEA, IFC and ADB to ensure that wind power takes its rightful place in the energy options for the future; and with opening up new markets for the industry worldwide.

Brenda Martin, CEO of SAWEA (South African Wind Energy Association)has worked as a senior practitioner in the Southern African Development, Education and Energy policy sectors for over 15 years.

After implementing small-scale energy, water and food security projects in Southern Africa between 2011 and 2016, she conducted interdisciplinary applied research on energy policy at the Energy Research Centre, UCT.

She has an MPhil in Energy & Development (Mechanical Engineering, UCT). And her dissertation focused on the Politics of Electricity planning in South Africa.