Final report 28th October 2022

An assessment of skills supply and demand for renewable energy, energy efficiency and regional energy integration

The SADC region relies heavily on energy produced from coal and water and has over the years grappled with an energy crisis seen through insufficient and inefficient energy supply. This crisis is mostly a result of a changing climate including droughts, outdated infrastructure and the depletion of natural resources. These natural resources include coal and gas and their use for power generation further contributes to climate change, who’s impacts are being faced globally. There has therefore been a desire and a call to shift towards renewable energy (RE) in the SADC region, which has the resources and conditions to make this shift. This is driven by the SADC Protocol on Energy and the various national policies. The SADC Protocol on Energy (SADC 20 identifies a number of strategic plans over the last 10 years which builds on previous policy. These include “the Regional Energy Access Strategy and Action Plan 2020 to2030 (SADC, 2020), the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan 2016 to 2030 (SADC, 2016), the SADC Industrial Energy Efficiency Programme and the development of the Regional Gas Master Plan” (SADC, 1996).