Renewables, gas infrastructure and grid connections key to a resilient South African power system

South Africa needs to move fast on renewables, get its gas infrastructure ready, scale up storage and clear the grid connection backlog to keep the lights on and meet climate goals. If it gets these elements right, South Africa can move closer to realising its vision of a modern, resilient and affordable power system, says financial advisory services company Cresco and financial services firm Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) in their June 2025 ‘Energy Market Projections’ report.
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Wind power is indeed suitable for South Africa

Wind power was a very appropriate renewable energy technology for South Africa, G7 Renewable Energies CEO Dr Kilian Hagemann told Engineering News, in an exclusive interview at the recent Africa Energy Forum, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. In fact, he noted, a decade ago, there was more wind energy capacity entering the South African market than solar energy capacity. However, since then, the amount of solar energy capacity had greatly increased, creating a more balanced situation. This was because the barriers to entry into the local market were higher for wind than for solar.
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Africa added more than 4.5 GW of hydropower capacity in 2024 – report

Africa added more than 4.5 GW new hydropower capacity in 2024, up from 2 GW in 2023, and hydropower now accounts for 20% of the continent’s total electricity generation, industry organisation the International Hydropower Association (IHA) says. According to its ‘2025 World Hydropower Outlook’, the capacity added in 2024 more than doubles the development of the preceding three years.
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Solareff opens new Cape Town office on back of regional boom

The Johannesburg-based Solareff group last week cut the ribbon on its new off-grid, 720 m2 regional office and warehouse in Cape Town. Chief commercial officer DeVilliers Botha says the engineered solar PV and battery energy storage solutions (BESS) group had only two Cape Town employees four years ago, with this number now at 22.
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Record renewables capacity falls short of global target, REN21 says

A record 740 GW of renewable energy capacity was added worldwide last year, still not enough to meet a global goal to triple renewable capacity by 2030, a report by the Paris-based think tank REN21 showed on Tuesday. A target was set at the COP28 UN climate conference in 2023 to triple the amount of renewables such as wind and solar to keep a 1.5 °C warming limit this century within reach.
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$1.5bn World Bank loan to support reforms in South Africa’s energy and transport sectors

The World Bank has approved a $1.5-billion (R27-billion) development policy loan to support the implementation of ongoing structural reform in South Africa’s energy and transport sectors, as well as the country’s transition toward a low-carbon economy. In a statement, the National Treasury said the loan offered favourable interest rates based on the six-month Secured Overnight Financing Rate, plus 1.49%, as well as flexible repayment terms, with a 16-year maturity and a three-year grace period.
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World Bank Group considers $500m boost for South Africa’s transmission expansion

The World Bank Group is considering financing $500-million of South Africa’s participation in a new credit guarantee facility meant to unlock private financing for a massive transmission grid expansion plan, a senior bank official told Reuters. South Africa is courting private investment for an ambitious plan to add 14 500 km of new lines and enhanced transformer capacity over the next decade, at an estimated total cost of $25-billion, as it looks to emerge from a decade of crippling power cuts that have battered the economy.
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Sarens does the heavy lifting at new Namibian wind farm

Heavy lifting and crane rental services company Sarens, through its South African division Sarens Siba, is working on the installation of 125 t wind turbine generators (WTGs) for the first phase of the InnoVent Diaz onshore wind farm in Namibia, with the second phase scheduled to start soon after. The new InnoVent Diaz onshore wind farm will be able to reach an energy capacity of 44 MW and will produce 230 GWh/y of renewable electricity once commissioned by the end of this year.
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Opinion: Robust transmission infrastructure the linchpin for addressing Africa’s energy crisis

In this opinion article, International Finance Corporation (IFC) regional industry director for the infrastructure and natural resources sector in Africa Sarvesh Suri underlines the importance of transmission infrastructure for improving security of supply in Africa. Suri also outlines the IFC’s role in advising governments and developers on advancing private-sector-led transmission lines. The progress in power generation across Africa has been encouraging: 26 GW of renewables-based generation capacity added in the last 10 years, according to the Renewable Energy Market Analysis report.
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Globeleq moves to buy majority stake in Zambian hydro company

Independent power producer Globeleq has signed a share purchase agreement with Norwegian development institution Norfund for the acquisition of a 51% equity stake in Zambia’s Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company (LHPC). No purchase price has been disclosed, but the transaction is expected to be finalised in the second half of 2025.
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