Every serious clean‑energy conversation ends with the same conclusion: we have to build the grid and scale clean energy infrastructure.
The world’s reliance on dwindling, increasingly expensive fossil fuels, compounded by rising carbon taxes, is colliding with “greenflation”, as the rush to renewables drives up the cost of critical mined materials.
Meanwhile, the intermittency of solar and wind highlights the urgent need for scalable, carbon‑safe energy sources capable of stabilising the grid and ensuring reliable, affordable power.
South Africa’s updated Integrated Resource Plan (released in 2025) recognises this reality by placing grid infrastructure and system operations at the centre of the transition. It outlines different future energy mix scenarios, shows when coal plants will be retired and commits to a new flexibility approach that relies on big batteries, demand‑response, quick‑start backup plants and targeted grid support. The real test, though, lies in our ability to sequence projects and reskill people quickly enough to deliver what the plan promises.
There is a strong need for more clean‑energy investment in emerging markets and developing economies. These Global South regions hold more than half of the world’s population but receive less than 15% of global clean‑energy funding, despite huge growth potential.
