South Africa considers renewable energy development zones

An initiative begun earlier this year to streamline the renewable energy independent power producers procurement (REIPPP) programme is causing concern among developers, who fear the new system might prejudice projects in which large sums of money have already been invested. Renewable Energy Development Zones (REDZ) were conceived following a request from the Department of Energy (DoE) that the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) find a way to speed up the lengthy and costly process of obtaining environmental authorisation for renewable power projects, according to Rainer Nowak, director at South African law firm Webber Wentzel and board member of the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (Sapvia).