Abstract
Globally, the power sector is one of the greatest beneficiaries of private
investment through public-private partnerships (PPPs) and project financing
structures. South Africa has adopted a unique approach to renewable energy (RE)
project finance and partnership development. This unique approach is referred to
as the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme
(REIPPPP). The programme is implemented through Independent Power Producer
(IPP) projects. The aim of this article is to assess IPPs as a variant model of PPPs.
To this end, the first objective is to determine what type of partnership IPPs
constitute. The second objective is to gain an understanding of how a variant PPP
model can be structured. This research is based on a qualitative research design.
Data data from past research, including 66 interviews and 168 interviews, is
triangulated with current research, including 13 interviews and a conceptual and
documentary analysis. The findings of the research suggest that IPPs contribute to
diversifying the country’s energy mix; developing RE technology; infrastructure,
local economic, and green skills development; and stimulating socio-economic
development. This research is unique as the concept of hybridity or hybrid PPPs is
an unexplored area in public sector management. Hybrid PPPs represent a unique
approach to public-private procurement for energy partnerships. The hybrid PPP
model serves public interest and is crucial to the country’s energy transition.