State-owned power utility Eskom and the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (Saretec) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to formalise the collaboration between the two entities in developing renewable energy artisan skills in South Africa to support the implementation of Eskom’s just energy transition (JET) strategy.

In support of this strategy, Eskom has a pipeline of clean energy projects at various stages of development and has acknowledged that there is a “dire” lack of skills along the value chain.

As an initiative of the Department of Higher Education and Training, implemented through the National Skills Fund, Saretec was established as the first national renewable energy technology centre and is managed by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

Saretec expedites specialised industry-related and accredited training for the renewable energy industry, including short courses and workshops. It has, since its inception, established itself as a renewable energy subject matter expert and has contributed to the national skills pool of artisans and technicians – with a special focus on wind and solar energy.

Saretec will support Eskom for the next three years to establish a renewable energy training facility to train artisans and technicians at Eskom’s Komati power station, in Mpumalanga. The facility will be managed by Eskom’s Academy of Learning.

The South African Wind Energy Association and the South African Solar Photovoltaic Industry Association play an integral role in the South African renewable energy industry as they promote innovation and cohesion among all the roleplayers and stakeholders. As members of these associations, both Eskom and Saretec will draw support from them regarding this project.

The objective of a partnership is to educate, reskill and upskill Eskom Komati power station staff and qualifying beneficiaries from the surrounding communities in the Mpumalanga region, in line with Eskom’s JET plans and Saretec’s vision to ensure a pipeline of local skills responding to economic needs and readiness for the energy transition.

The accelerated global movement towards investment in a clean energy transition has exposed the need in South Africa to upskill, retrain and develop a workforce that can take full advantage of the opportunities presented by it.

Moreover, the risk of job losses and redundancy owing to the transition presents an opportunity to provide training and upskilling for new industries that can be scaled up owing to the transition, particularly the renewables industry.

Eskom and Saretec will partner with key stakeholders to ensure that the JET goals are met in an “inclusive and collaborative” manner, drawing on the skills of all key roleplayers.