Abstract
Given South Africa’s increasing energy demand and Eskom’s deteriorating power stations, it is crucial to develop clean energy sources to meet the country's energy needs and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants. Renewable Energy (RE) is recognized worldwide as the most suitable alternative to fossil fuels for generating reliable, clean, affordable, and cost-effective energy while reducing carbon emissions. Renewable energy is energy derived from natural resources and converted into electrical energy. It includes sources such as wind, solar, water, tides, biofuel, and geothermal heat. South Africa has abundant solar energy sources, high-quality wind resources, and enormous biomass energy potential. These resources can potentially expand the country’s electricity generation and thus meet the energy demand.
South Africa’s just energy transition journey has steadily gained momentum since its inception. The diversification of the country’s energy mix through the integration of utility-scale renewable energy is primarily driven by the government-run Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPPP). At the end of 2024, SA had 6,230 MW of renewable energy in the grid, comprising solar PV, solar CSP, and onshore wind procured under the REIPPPP program.
However, despite the progress that the government has already made in developing and integrating renewable energy under the REIPPPP, some industry experts still believe that South Africa lacks the urgency and consistency in prioritising renewable energy development. Therefore, this study addresses this problem by focusing on the challenges that hinder the integration of renewable energy in South Africa.
The purpose of this research study is to propose a framework for the effective integration of Independent Power Producers’ utility-scale renewable energy into South Africa’s energy system. This was achieved by examining the barriers to renewable energy integration, their interrelationships, and, finally, proposing solution strategies to mitigate them. The Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) theoretical framework was adopted to map the barriers at different levels of socio-technical transition. The Agreement Knowledge Technological Economic Social Political (AKTESP) framework for barrier identification was adopted to outline the nature and influence of the barriers, providing a good structure for addressing the research problem.
The study adopted a mixed-methods research approach to understand the barriers to renewable energy integration and then how they can be managed to ensure effective integration into SA’s energy mix. Initially, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify studies addressing barriers to renewable energy development globally. Thirty-nine...