The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) and GIZ SAGEN in collaboration with the eThekwini Municipality hosted a Solar PV workshop focused on small scale embedded generation, recently.

The event was aimed at empowering local entrepreneurs and business that operate within the renewable energy sector while exploring avenues through which the industry can be made more inclusive.

Mr Sbu Ndebele, Deputy Head of eThekwini Municipality's Development Management expressed the Municipality’s’ commitment to exploring renewable energy as a strategic tool to grow the local economy and create jobs while combating the effects of climate change.

Following the National Treasury’s document titled "Economic transformation, inclusive growth, and competitiveness: towards an economic strategy for South Africa", the case for using renewable energy as one of the vehicles to increase the development of the local economy is highlighted and possible solutions on how this could be operationalised were outlined.

The eThekwini Municipality is at the forefront of crafting tools and mechanisms through which the local economy can be grown and looking at ways in which this can be achieved in an inclusive manner where the benefits can be realised across eThekwini.

EThekwini Municipality is committed to creating the environment where jobs and growth imperatives are met and the officials are working hand in hand with SAPVIA and its members through initiatives like the PV GreenCard which showcases skills development and promotes safe and quality Solar PV installations, to ensure that the objectives are realised.

With close to 100 Solar PV installation companies in attendance, the mood at the event was positive due to the progress that has already been made and the upcoming developments which will streamline some of the processes for stakeholders in the renewable energy industry.

South Africa remains a leader in the push for renewable energy on the African continent and eThekwini Municipality together with SAPVIA is working to ensure support is made available for businesses, residents and other stakeholders who want to play a role in the growth of both the sector and the Municipality as a whole.