Learnings from the ANTU solar project in Argentina and an ambitious South African project in development
Our latest webinar in the Trust Matters and Land Matters projects focused on strengthening the active participation and effectiveness of community equity holders, typically trusts, and landowners in South Africa’s renewable energy sector. The discussions explored a pioneering model of co-ownership that has strengthened trust and ensured long-term sustainability for community landowners, developers and communities. This cross-continental conversation offers us a chance to review the lessons, challenges, and opportunities for South Africa’s renewable energy landscape.
Webinar highlights
Juan Dumas from Meliquina (Argentina), shared insights from the ANTU Solar Project, a groundbreaking initiative that integrates community equity ownership on communal land. Joining the conversation, Masechaba Mabilu of Embedding Impact (INSPIRE Senior Strategic Partner) and Methuli Mbanjwa of Forethought Capital explored how the lessons from this project can inform South Africa’s own journey.
The speakers contextualised and unpacked both the complexity and benefits of developing renewable energy projects on community-owned land, and shared their lessons learned, as well as what the implications of those are for a just energy transition. The webinar had the audience engaged with critical questions emerging, and one of the most important being how the community land for the development of this type of project is chosen.
Key themes and barriers faced when attempting to build on community owned land were shared. The conversation also emphasised that a guardianship role needs to be played to ensure that trusts will continue in perpetuity. Further, that when embarking on this developmental process it is important to understand the needs of the community, understand their dreams and aspirations of their community, and answering those dreams.
“Equity partnerships done in the right way are useful and interesting to everybody”- Juan Dumas
Community Equity Fund opportunity
Meliquina shared on the development of a concept called Ccommunity Equity Opportunity Fund, designed to support community equity positions throughout every stage of a project’s life cycle. The idea challenges the assumption that communities lack viable business projects or entrepreneurial ideas, because they do have them. Instead, it argues that communities do have them – It’s simply a matter of approaching them directly and asking. Juan Dumas emphasised that while we can’t undo the historic injustices of humanity’s past, we do have the chance to help shape a new and better story for the generations that follow.
