Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian

Socially Owned Renewable Energy

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Saving supplies: Patrick Bam, an executive member of the SalTuba Cooperative, said being able to generate their own electricity has helped the community to avoid food loss and damages to appliances. Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee
COMMUNITY OWNED ENERGY

People who own the sun

There is no official registry of socially owned renewable energy projects in South Africa, but research has identified more than 20 operating initiatives across the country

  • Thabo Molelekwa
  • Lindiwe Pakati
10 min read
A new case study proposes that, as part of the country’s energy transition, mining-affected communities, like those in Sekhukhune, set up solar farms through cooperatives to generate electricity for their own use.
JUST ENERGY TRANSITION SOUTH AFRICA

Limpopo mining-affected communities call for community-led, socially-owned renewable energy model

New report is ‘both a call to action and a blueprint for change’ for socially-owned renewables in South Africa’s energy transition

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read