All the talk about the self-generation of electricity makes it sound like a walk in the park, but it’s not. Those who take steps to self-generate find the going tough. South Africa, it seems, loves red tape. My plea to the politicians is to simplify the rules.
South Africa is extremely lucky to have so many companies champing at the bit to invest in sun and wind energy projects. This is because renewables represent the cheapest, quickest and cleanest way to produce electricity. Just think of what South Africa Inc could achieve if it worked as a collective to close the power gap.
Those standing in the way of putting South Africa’s superior sunshine and prime wind to work must step aside. In many other countries, governments cajole independent power producers by dangling cash grants, soft loans and other carrots. That South Africa’s self-generation aspirants are fully prepared to pay their own way is of huge benefit.