Analysis of Barriers to South Africa’s Energy Transition: Perspectives from industry experts

Abstract

Renewable energy sources hold immense potential for meeting future energy demands while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Despite South Africa's abundant wind and solar resources, the country's transition to renewable energy has remained stagnant. Several barriers hinder the integration of these technologies into the energy system. This study applied the AKTESP theoretical framework to analyse the key challenges impeding wind and solar energy adoption in South Africa. Fifteen semi-structured interviews with industry experts were conducted to gather insights into these barriers. The analysis revealed that agreement, social, and technological categories are the most critical barriers obstructing South Africa’s energy transition. Among the most significant barriers are the lack of grid connection, the lack of policy continuity (both mentioned by 100% of participants), and limited public awareness (mentioned by 87% of participants). In contrast, political, market, economic, and knowledge-related barriers were found to be less significant. South Africa has well-developed policies and knowledgeable stakeholders capable of supporting renewable energy projects and facilitating their integration into the national grid.