The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has welcomed Cabinet’s adoption of the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM), noting the importance of collaborative efforts in shaping the country's energy future.
SAPVIA notes localisation opportunities in solar PV systems and sub-systems as well as for balance of plant.
South Africa’s energy future relies on all role players and all stakeholders working together and finding the best mix of solutions to deliver an energy-secure tomorrow. SAPVIA says the development of the SAREM and its recent approval by Cabinet reflect the success of this approach.
“We were privileged to have served on the steering committee since the inception of the SAREM process and saw first-hand how everyone pulled in the same direction. As members of the committee, we could represent the solar PV industry in the development of the masterplan, and the news that it has now been adopted is truly worth celebrating,” says SAPVIA CEO Dr Rethabile Melamu.
The SAREM is an inclusive industrial development plan for the renewable energy and storage value chains by 2030. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) announced on Friday, 28 March, that the plan had been formally adopted by Cabinet for implementation.
The vision of the SAREM is underpinned by six key objectives:
- Grow the economy by fostering the rollout of renewable energy and battery storage projects
- Expand the industrial capacity in the renewable energy and storage value chain
- Create and sustain decent employment across the value chain, from manufacturing, construction and services to end-of-life management
- Build the capabilities needed for the industry
- Build a transformed industry throughout the value chain
- Contribute to a just transition and support the inclusive shift of South Africa’s electricity supply industry from a centralised, carbon-intensive model to a decentralised, low-carbon structure.
“We congratulate the DMRE, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, and all our other partner stakeholders for their part in this success story. But the real work begins now – we need to continue our collective efforts in making this plan a reality,” says Melamu.
The solar PV panel and module value chain have captured the primary attention of policy makers, including in South Africa. However, SAPVIA notes that there are localisation opportunities in South Africa for major solar PV sub-systems as well, including mounting and tracking structures; inverters; and manufactured inputs into electrical and civil balance of plant (BoP).
For more information visit: www.sapvia.co.za
