𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲

The South African-German Energy Partnership continued to support its local partners by accompanying a South African delegation led by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) to the 2025 Intersolar Europe in Munich on 06 - 09 May 2025. Intersolar Europe is Europe’s leading exhibition for the solar and storage industry which attracted around 1,500 exhibitors and 2,010 suppliers to present solar energy products and services as part of The Smarter E Europe. Around 110.000 attendees visited the conference and fair in Munich this year.

South Africa’s energy landscape is transforming rapidly. By 2030, the country is set to install over 32GW of renewable energy and build more than 14,000 km of new transmission lines - unlocking major opportunities in large-scale renewables, storage, energy services, and e-mobility charging infrastructure.

The 2025 Intersolar assignment focused on further strengthening the relationships built last year and starting new ones through targeted bilateral engagements with companies in the components manufacturing and financing of renewable energy projects.

Team South Africa, comprising of the dtic, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa, the South African Photovoltaics Industry Association (SAPVIA), hosted its flagship event at the Intersolar Europe, themed "Invest in a Growing Renewable Energy Market." The session highlighted the growth and scale of renewables in South Africa, which is Africa’s leading market, and how the dtic through the InvestSA and its implementing agencies such as the IDC, are positioned to support companies looking to invest in the renewable energy and storage industrial value chains in South Africa's diverse energy programs.

The showcase presented compelling opportunities for European investors and industry leaders, emphasizing South Africa's strategic advantages in the renewable energy landscape. “South Africa is seeing rapid renewable energy deployment. As such, the country is leveraging on this growth by promoting clear localization of component manufacturing as outlined in the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM)” said Dr Rethabile Melamu, Chief Executive Officer of the SAPVIA.

Specifically, the country is prioritizing sectors where it holds competitive advantage, creating targeted opportunities for local component manufacturing and international partnerships.

To address skilled workforce development, initiatives are underway to align existing labor resources with the specific needs of the expanding renewable energy manufacturing sector.

Mr Kugan Thaver, Head of Machinery, Equipment & Electronics at the IDC said “the country has devised government-led support mechanisms and structures, including various funding options, dedicated facilities within Special Economic Zones, and firm implementation plans for the national Transmission Development Plan”.

This event reinforced South Africa's position as an emerging leader in Africa's renewable energy transition and highlighted the strategic benefits for international companies seeking to participate in this growing market.

Team South Africa was supported by the South African-German Energy Partnership, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) part of the World Bank Group and the German Solar Association (BSW).