Our working groups bring together the best specialists in their respective areas. Each working group examines key issues, shares best practice and suggests improved approaches to build and enhance their specialist area for the benefit of the whole solar PV industry.
The working groups are made up of a number of individuals who have volunteered to share specialist knowledge and expertise. Meeting regularly, members are able to make valuable connections as well as provide SAPVIA with an invaluable resource from which we can pull expertise when we consider specific issues and themes.
If you would like to join any of our Working Groups please contact Zimkita Bilibana on: zimkita@sapvia.co.za
The Grid Access Working Group (GAWG) is a collaborative initiative that works towards resolving issues related to grid connections. It works closely with the Government, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), Eskom, and local municipalities to promote feasible and sustainable grid access for Renewable Energy (RE) plants. The group primarily focuses on the large-scale (REIPPPP) market segment but also caters to other RE market segments as required.
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The Distributed Generation Working Group is committed to promoting market access and quality for all parties involved, specifically focusing on the end user. The group works closely with the South African government, local municipalities, and other pertinent stakeholders, such as Eskom and NERSA, to establish a feasible and sustainable embedded PV market in the country.
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The Environmental Working Group is dedicated to exploring the environmental impact of renewable energy sources. The group seeks to identify responsible solutions to address ecological challenges posed by the deployment of renewable energy technologies. Additionally, the group aims to quantify renewable energy's positive impact, including its ability to avoid carbon emissions. The group will provide strategic review and comment on permitting and regulatory aspects of solar and wind energy development, implementation, and operation. They will also evaluate the environmental aspects of the general solar and wind energy industry.
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The Residential PV Working Group focuses on addressing key challenges and opportunities in South Africa’s residential solar PV and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) market. The group comprises municipalities, service providers, financial institutions, and other key stakeholders. It aims to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth in the sector by tackling issues such as regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and customer acquisition costs, while also exploring innovative financing mechanisms to drive wider deployment, especially in middle and low-income households.
The Skills for PV Working Group is dedicated to developing skills to enhance individuals' capacity in the solar PV field. The group identifies scarce skills and explores opportunities to create a suitably qualified workforce in the solar PV industry. The working group should engage with stakeholders, including EWSETA, merSETA, SAQA, QCTO, academia, NBI, Harambe, and other relevant institutions, to direct and support key initiatives to achieve this mandate.
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The Manufacturing Working Group comprises local manufacturers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and component distributors. The group concentrates on tackling specific issues related to the development of local Photovoltaic (PV) value chains and contributes to defining local content related to the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPPP) and other government-led procurement programs.
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