South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA)’s Post

Africa stands on the brink of a transformative era. Known for its vast natural resources, the continent is now drawing global attention for its renewable energy potential. A recent report by Wood Mackenzie, commissioned by Revego Fund Managers and MOBILIST, highlights a $193 billion investment opportunity in Africa’s renewable energy market by 2031.  This shift towards clean energy is not only about economics but also about achieving sustainable development and boosting Africa’s economic growth. Get more details here: https://lnkd.in/dZHYgSw6

▶️ Hear from our own Svitlana O. and GET.transform's Ene Macharm about how our partnership is advancing concessional financing for renewable energy projects and delivering technical assistance to African countries to accelerate their energy transitions. As part of this joint initiative by GET.transform, the POWER FUTURES LAB, our Sustainable Renewables Risk Mitigation Initiative, and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), we recently held a training in Cape Town: the Policy Catalyst Effective Renewable Energy Tendering. This event brought together 62 delegates from 12 African nations who dove deep into renewable energy auction design and implementation. The training provided participants with hands-on experience in risk management and off-taker sustainability, supported the development of country-specific action plans to guide future renewable energy projects, and included a visit to ESKOM's pioneering utility-scale Battery Energy Storage System—the first of its kind in Africa. #Energy #RenewableEnergy #CleanEnergy #Africa

📝 #REAWeeklyUpdate This week at the REA, we closed up on 2 vital Calls for Expression of Interest as we advanced on the assessments of submissions for the 3rd Call of the Rural Electrification Fund (REF) as well as the Call for Participation in the development of the nation's renewable energy access. This week, we officially published an invite to all renewable energy stakeholders to apply for the Minimum Subsidy Tender (MST) for utility embedded projects under the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES). These Calls are vital as the Agency remains central to the strategic repositioning of the clean energy ecosystem in Nigeria. Most importantly, however, the Agency continues to task and inspire private sector players in the sector to rethink the business of electrification through better governance structures, sustainability mechanisms and models, innovation, research, and development. This week, the Agency equally featured prominently in a range of productive engagements both within and outside of the Agency's Headquarters. Flip through this week's edition of The REA Weekly Update for more!

Our Head of Business Development Wezi Gondwe , will attend and speak at the Coal & Energy Transition Day on 23rd July at the Country Club Johannesburg in Auckland Park. Wezi will join an esteemed panel from 16:45 to 17:30 to discuss "The latest developments in renewable energy and their contribution to South Africa’s energy mix." This session will cover crucial topics such as: 🔹 The contribution of renewable energy to resolving South Africa’s energy crisis and its evolution over the past year. 🔹 Updates on the Renewable Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP) and the efficiency of the process and allocation of generation capacity to private companies. 🔹 The impact of grid capacity limitations on renewable energy producers and what government actions are needed to improve the situation. 🔹 The development of energy storage technologies and their readiness to support renewable energy providers. 🔹 The timeframe for renewable energy to provide 100% of baseload power. The panel will be chaired by Frank Spencer, Regional Director for Southern Africa, Cainmani. It will include prominent industry leaders: Niveshen Govender, CEO of the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA), Tshifhiwa Bernard Magoro, Head of the IPP Office, and Dr. Rethabile Melamu, PhD, CEO of the South African Photo Voltaic Association (SAPVIA). #RenewableEnergy #GreenCo #EnergyCrisis #SouthAfrica Ana Hajduka Cathy Oxby

Did you know that South Africa is making remarkable progress in the renewable energy sector? The joint venture between Anglo American and EDF, Envusa Energy, is gearing up to start construction on the Koruson II projects. This initiative will add a combined 520MW of wind and solar capacity in the Northern Cape, marking a significant step towards a sustainable energy future. Key Highlights: Renewable Energy Expansion: The Koruson II projects are a critical part of South Africa's Renewable Energy Masterplan, aiming to reduce reliance on traditional power sources and promote green energy. Industrial Resilience: South Africa's manufacturing sector continues to show resilience with a 4.1% year-on-year growth as of February 2024, marking five consecutive months of positive growth. These developments underscore the nation's commitment to a sustainable and industrially robust future. Let's continue to support and drive innovation for a greener and stronger South Africa! #RenewableEnergy #IndustrialGrowth #SouthAfrica #Sustainability #Innovation #Uzenzele

The Global Renewables Centre (GRC) is a new initiative dedicated to advancing renewable energy solutions, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building across Africa and beyond. Funded by the Scottish Government, the GRC will initially focus on partnerships between Scotland, Zambia, Rwanda and Malawi. Hosted by the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, the Zambia Renewable Energy Association (ZARENA), Energy Private Developers (EPD) in Rwanda, and the Renewable Energy Industry Association of Malawi (REIAMA), the GRC is a dynamic platform fostering collaboration and innovation in the renewable energy sector. With the combined efforts of Zambia, Rwanda, Malawi, and Scotland, the GRC is a beacon of regional and international collaboration, driving sustainable development and empowering communities to embrace renewable energy solutions. #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #GlobalRenewablesCenter #ZARENA #EPD #REIAMA Damien Frame Aran Eales epdrwanda Renewable Energy Industries Association of Malawi (REIAMA) Zambia Renewable Energy Association - ZARENA University of Strathclyde

Shaping Africa’s Energy Future: Lessons in Financing Renewable Energy How do we bridge the gap between energy access and financing in Africa? This question took center stage during Week 10 of the Africa Fellowship for Young Energy Leaders (AFYEL), where we explored innovative ways to fund solar PV and renewable energy projects across the continent. In a live session with Engr Piero Carlo Dos Reis, we examined the changing dynamics of renewable energy financing. He shared invaluable insights on how falling costs for technologies like solar PV and wind—driven by advancements, economies of scale, and market competition—are opening up new opportunities for large-scale projects. Yet, he reminded us of the challenges: limited infrastructure, inconsistent regulatory environments, and the need for accessible financing for smaller developers. We also engaged with Engr. Horst Unterlechner, who shifted our focus to biogas technology. His session underscored biogas’ potential to diversify Africa’s energy mix and provided practical approaches to funding such projects. Key Takeaways 🔹 Financing Innovation: Scaling renewable energy requires diverse funding mechanisms, from private investments to government-backed incentives, to make projects bankable and sustainable. 🔹 Enabling Policies: Supportive policies such as tax incentives and feed-in tariffs reduce investor risks and accelerate project development. 🔹 Collaboration is Critical: Achieving universal energy access will require partnerships among governments, developers, communities, and investors, as well as regional coordination to address infrastructure gaps. These insights remind me of the collective responsibility we share in building an energy-secure future for Africa. As I reflect on this week’s lessons, I’m motivated to explore how I can contribute to bridging financing gaps and creating an enabling ecosystem for renewables. How do you see private investment transforming Africa’s renewable energy landscape? Many thanks to the AFYEL team Glory Oguegbu Benjamin Gomado Abada Victory for putting together this insightful sessions. #renewableenergy #energytransition #financingrenewables #climatechange

🌟 Happening Now! 🌟 Our CEO, Dr. Rethabile Melamu, PhD, is live on stage at the C&I Solar + Storage Summit, sharing insights and expertise as part of a dynamic panel discussion on strategies to accelerate the adoption of Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Solar and Storage Solutions in South Africa.⚡ This important conversation addresses challenges, opportunities, and innovative approaches to drive sustainable energy solutions across the C&I sector. 💡 #SAPVIA #SolarPower #EnergyIndependence #CISolarSummit #RenewableEnergy #SustainableBusiness #SolarStorageSummit

 Unlocking Self-Determination and Growth through Solar Energy: Africa GreenTec's Mission 🌞 💡 We are pleased to announce that our mission to empower communities in Africa through sustainable energy solutions has garnered significant recognition. The latest article from Erneuerbare Energien Aktuell highlights the challenges, innovative solutions, and impressive results achieved by Africa GreenTec. 📄 Read the full article (in German) on Erneuerbare Energien Aktuell: https://lnkd.in/erHTx85C ⚡️ About Erneuerbare Energien Aktuell: Erneuerbare Energien Aktuell is a premier online platform providing high-quality information on renewable energies. Since its inception in 2023, the company has been dedicated to disseminating evidence-based facts about renewable energy resources and sustainable investment strategies, empowering individuals to make informed decisions in the field of renewable energies and green investments. Erneuerbare Energien Aktuell Jessica Dzikonski WE DO. #AfricaGreenTec #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #SDGs #ImpactInvesting #SolarEnergy #SelfDetermination