12 October 2015
REN21, UNIDO Publish Report on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Southern Africa
story highlights

The Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have published a report that illustrates the achievements of cooperation in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in promoting the market-based uptake of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies and services.

The report, titled the ‘SADC Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Status Report,' was launched at a side event during the South Africa International Renewable Energy Conference (SAIREC) 2015, which convened from 4-7 October 2015 in Cape Town, South Africa.

REN21 - SADC - UNIDO7 October 2015: The Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have published a report that illustrates the achievements of cooperation in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in promoting the market-based uptake of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies and services. The report, titled the ‘SADC Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Status Report,’ was launched at a side event during the South Africa International Renewable Energy Conference (SAIREC) 2015, which convened from 4-7 October 2015 in Cape Town, South Africa.

The report presents a comprehensive regional perspective on the renewable energy and energy efficiency market and industry developments in the SADC region. It supports SADC’s efforts to increase the deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the region by providing a regional review of renewable energy and energy efficiency developments, evolving policy landscapes, market trends, achievements in renewable energy on- and off-grid, and financing opportunities.

More specifically, the report provides a regional overview, focusing on population and economy, renewable energy in the economy, regional energy challenges, and platforms for regional energy coordination. On renewable energy markets and trends, the report addresses: renewable energy capacity, cooking, the power sector (hydropower, solar, wind and biomass), rural electrification, distributed energy and transport. The report also provides a section on energy efficiency, which addresses electricity transmission and distribution, standards and labeling, and lighting, buildings and cooking. On the policy landscape, the report discusses global and regional initiatives, national renewable energy targets and policies. The report also has a section on investment flows, which focuses on the renewable energy pipeline, regional financing sources, and potential of climate finance.

SAIREC 2015 provided a global platform for all relevant stakeholders to discuss and exchange their vision, experiences and solutions to accelerate the global scale-up of renewable energy in the region. It met under the theme ‘RE-energising Africa,’ and demonstrated Africa’s attractiveness from a business standpoint for the renewable energy sector given its current growth trajectory. South Africa was the sixth country, and the first in Africa, to host the International Renewable Energy Conference (IREC), which is convened by REN21. [SAIREC Website] [Report Launch Website] [Publication: SADC Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Status Report]


related events