The South African Cabinet of Ministers has formally approved the country’s Renewable Energy Master Plan (SAREM) for implementation, the government said in a statement reflecting decisions from the Cabinet’s meeting on March 26.

The SAREM aims to leverage the growing demand for renewable energy and storage technologies to drive industrialisation and support local manufacturing. According to the statement, the master plan will focus on solar and wind energy, lithium-ion, battery and vanadium-based battery storage technologies.

South Africa’s Ministry of Electricity and Energy has welcomed the Cabinet’s approval of the SAREM.

“The South African Renewable Energy Master Plan is not just a blueprint for green industrialisation; it is a pathway to a more sustainable and equitable future for all South Africans,” Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said in a statement on March 28. “We have a unique opportunity to lead in the global renewable energy and battery storage landscape, creating jobs and fostering economic growth while protecting our environment.”

According to Samantha Graham Mare, Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, who was instrumental in driving the adoption of SAREM, the master plan is underpinned by bold targets and strategic interventions, including a goal to roll out 3–5 GW of renewable energy each year to support local manufacturing.  

It also envisages the creation of over 25,000 jobs by 2030 through the local production of components like solar panels, inverters, wind towers, cables, and batteries. Additionally, industrial hubs and Special Economic Zones will be set up to boost renewable energy manufacturing and services.

The plan aims to promote local content, strengthen domestic supply chains, and improve energy sustainability. It will also support a just energy transition (JET) that creates skills and jobs, cuts emissions, and helps position South Africa as a leading destination for green energy investment.

The Cabinet said the SAREM was designed to be a living document, which would incorporate changes as new technologies evolved.

“Cabinet directed that additional work be done on the master plan to incentivise investors to fund renewable energy supplier development, and include the development of green hydrogen fuel in order to meet the international obligation of 5% blended fuel in aviation and maritime sectors by 2030,” the government said.

In the statement, the Electricity and Energy Ministry confirmed that the SAREM would be adapted and updated to accommodate emerging technologies and sectoral priorities. “Beyond wind, solar, and battery storage, future iterations of SAREM will consider the integration of additional renewable energy technologies, including the fast-emerging green hydrogen sector and waste-to-energy solutions,” it said.

The ministry also announced that it would host the South African Renewable Energy Expo later this year to build on the momentum created by the SAREM and showcase investment opportunities across the renewable energy and battery storage value chain.