Relief for wind and PV as South Africa takes the long-term view

South Africa’s long-awaited draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) this week brought some much-needed reasons for positivity for its wind and solar PV industries.

The policy document, which is supposed to be updated every two years, has not been renewed since 2010, causing uncertainty across all energy sectors.

Combined with utility provider Eskom’s recent refusal to sign power purchase agreements (PPAs) for independent power producers participating in the government’s Renewable Energy Power Producer’s Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), the tardy IRP has contributed to decreasing investor confidence over the past year.

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