Komati Socially Owned RE

This ambitious assessment explores the feasibility of developing a socially owned renewable energy (SORE) initiative at the Komati coal power-station in South Africa. As coal-fired power stations decommission, the challenge lies in ensuring that local communities see meaningful economic inclusion and benefit from renewable energy development.

Led by a consortium of Ecorys, Nelson Mandela University, Genesis Analytics, and commissioned by the World Bank Group and the Presidential Climate Commission, INSPIRE forms part of the project consortium that adopts a deeply participatory, asset-based approach to engage affected workers, residents, and stakeholders in shaping a locally appropriate model for SORE that reflects their needs, assets, and aspirations.

The assessment covers technical feasibility, site selection, social and environmental impacts, financial and economic modelling, and legal and regulatory frameworks — all grounded in extensive stakeholder engagement. Innovative methodologies such as Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), Participatory Action Research (PAR), and participatory rural appraisal ensure the process is inclusive, context-driven, and informed by lived experience.

The project outputs will offer actionable recommendations and a roadmap for implementing a socially owned renewable energy initiative in Komati, contributing to South Africa’s just and equitable transition. The findings aim to influence policy, inspire replication in other transitioning communities, and demonstrate that community-driven energy solutions can deliver real economic and social value.