Research Reports

Intellidex has conducted a research project into community trusts set up under South Africa’s renewable energy independent power producer procurement programme (REIPPPP). The research was funded by FirstRand.

This policy brief provides lessons learnt and associated recommendations from one particular attempt to address this issue, namely South Africa’s efforts to incorporate community development as a criteria in the auction schemes through which renewable energy is procured. This policy is implemented through the nationwide REIPPP programme, which is among the few of its kind…

This paper develops a social performance approach for energy-sector investments and energy project development. In essence, this puts the needs and well-being of people – including current and future generations – at the centre of energy development and related investments and activities. The approach can help determine whether (or not) the development and implementation of…

This paper explores the question of scaling Just Transition community projects, blending historical and empirical perspectives. Through an assessment of the design, funding, implementation and maintenance of such projects, the paper articulates the constraints and opportunities for South Africa’s historically disadvantaged communities. South Africa is indeed not new transition projects and, in some ways, can…

The research investigated community engagement within the tripartite relationship of a wind farm, the communities around it, and the local government. It was found that local government played a moderating role in the community engagement efforts of the wind farm, which had to comply with certain engagement protocols determined by local government.

This paper outlines the Social Performance Approach, offering a new perspectiveon understanding and shaping energy sector investments for the benefit of people and communities.

This report presents the results of a study which unpacks some of the major political, institutional, regulatory and social barriers to renewable energy deployment in South Africa. It also provides some insight into proposed means of addressing these barriers to facilitate accelerated industrialisation in the renewable energy sector.

This paper offers insights into the unique social challenges and opportunities for wind and solar developers. It distills lessons from the experiences of these companies in securing and maintaining their social licence to operate (SLTO) by eensuring that social communities share in the benefit from their projects.

This learning brief shares important lessons learnt by the Lesedi Solar Park Trust, Letsatsi Solar Park Trust and Peace Humansrus Trust (PHT).

This study assesses the SED and ED impacts of renewable energy deployment in marginalised communities in South Africa; this was carried out in the context of the COBENEFITS project with the aim of assessing the range of additional benefits2 resulting from a low-carbon energy transition in the country. It entails the assessment of selected socio-economic…

The whole debate boils down to a single question: How can renewables improve the lives of the people in South Africa? Substantiated by scientific rigor and key technical data, the study at hand contributes to answering this question. It also provides guidance to government departments and agencies on further shaping an enabling environment to maximize…

The purpose of the research on which this article reports was to investigate how renewable energy forms part of the strategy of a local government, and to evaluate how participatory processes are utilised in the development and communication of this municipal strategy.