SUMMARY: The reflection paper provides the basics of a Just Energy Transition (JET) in South Africa, highlighting the reasons a JET is needed. The paper investigates ownership of the national Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REI4P) projects so as to access the distribution of local versus foreign ownership for these projects. This was done to address the concern that financial benefits from these projects do not stay in South Africa. The paper outlines the type of community ownership which can drive JET and outlines international success stories for community energy ownership, the considerations and issues that could affect community energy in South Africa, and the next steps for REI4P in the context of community ownership.
KEY FINDING / RECOMMENDATIONS: The paper notes among others that clarity is needed about how the structure of Eskom would be compatible with community energy; political interference and vested interests in coal are raised as a concern; policy uncertainty exists in the energy sector; feed-in tariff is currently illegal in terms of Treasury regulations. Funding should be relocated to local manufacturing of renewable energy and development of the sector; municipal finance models need to change to accommodate community energy.