Renewable Energy
latest news & developments
Kruger goes green without giving up ground
A pioneering partnership between SANParks, Discovery Green, and Sasol delivers renewable energy to Kruger National Park via the national grid, reducing emissions without taking…
The Inga Dam project could be Africa's game changer
The DRC's Grand Inga hydropower project holds the potential to generate 43,200MW and transform energy access across Africa, but overcoming decades of bureaucratic hurdles and…
Execution in the face of complexity will decide South Africa’s energy transition.
As South Africa faces coal decommissioning and an urgent need for grid capacity, lessons from SOLA's multi-buyer Project Springbok show how embracing complex commercial models…
A second life for mine waste
A groundbreaking solar photovoltaic (PV) project at Kumba Iron Ore’s Sishen mine in the Northern Cape is transforming a rehabilitated waste rock dump into a renewable energy…
Transforming South Africa’s power grid, virtually
As South Africans invest billions in rooftop solar and batteries, Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) offer a way to connect these distributed energy resources into a single, flexible…
Malawi received millions for electricity but most live without
Malawi has become one of the biggest recipients of international renewable energy finance among the world's least-developed countries. But for most of its people, the lights have…
How a distant war is deepening South Africa’s energy poverty
A distant conflict in the Middle East has triggered the largest oil supply disruption ever recorded, leading to soaring fuel prices in South Africa and exposing the country's…
Beyond the build: Green jobs in SA’s renewables industry
South Africa's green economy promises millions of jobs by 2050, driven by renewable energy projects. However, an investigation reveals that while construction phases generate…
1.5 trillion reasons to back SA's youth in the Just Energy Transition
South Africa's Just Energy Transition is poised to be one of the nation's largest investment opportunities, estimated at R1.5 trillion. However, the focus has largely been on…
Billions are flowing into South Africa’s green economy
The Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) in the Western Cape was established in 2020 to attract green economy investment. Oxpeckers investigates whether this ambition is…
Youth Month: 1976 echoes in 2026 – no to a future without consent
As South Africa marks Youth Month, the government's opaque energy loan agreements, including a deal with Opec, raise concerns about fossil fuel dependency and lack of public…
Africa's clean energy future is stuck in grid traffic
South Africa, rich in solar and wind resources with billions ready for investment, faces a critical bottleneck: a severe lack of power lines and an opaque grid access queue. This…
The risk problem with investors treating African energy as one market
The 2024 El Niño drought severely impacted Southern Africa's energy infrastructure, notably Lake Kariba, exposing the diverse and complex risks investors face across the…
How the US-Israel-Iran conflict is reshaping South Africa’s coal exports
Middle East tension has pushed up energy prices and boosted demand for South African coal, raising questions about climate commitments and exports
Malawi’s solar push bypasses its poorest
A peer-reviewed study finds wealth inequality is locking the poorest households out of solar electrification