South Africa is facing challenging economic growth conditions exacerbated by a significant energy crisis.
This challenge presents an opportunity to remove existing limitations on embedded energy generation while stimulating a new job market – essentially opening up the energy economy. Regulators will need to act soon to make this possible. This is according to Manie de Waal, CEO of Energy Partners Solar, commenting on the recent statement made by President Cyril Ramaphosa that government has been given the go-ahead to draw up legislation allowing businesses to generate their own electricity.
“Renewable energy generation in the form of solar energy has never been more affordable or accessible to the commercial and industrial sectors. However, the regulatory red tape and complicated registration and licensing processes associated with embedded generation are making it nearly impossible for businesses to go this route. While we welcome the President’s statement, it needs to be followed by decisive and quick action to remove the barriers to private generation.”
