Towards a workable renewable energy framework inSouth Africa

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dc.contributor.advisorPaterson, Alexanderen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorJooste, Den_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-07-30T18:19:34Z
dc.date.available2014-07-30T18:19:34Z
dc.date.issued2010en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation aims to determine whether a workable legal framework forrenewable energy (RE) exists in South Africa by comparing the country'sexisting policy and legislative frameworks in order to highlight strengths andweaknesses, and juxtaposing this overall position against contemporaryforeign legislation from the United States in an effort to discern relevant andviable best practices. Key issues that are considered include: theGovernment's commitment to RE and energy efficiency; environmentalprotection and RE as drivers for social development; job creation andsustainable economic growth; the governance of and relevant institutions inthe energy sector; public participation, education and access to information interms of RE; and, finally, the use of market-based instruments for the supportof RE in South Africa.The research found that South Africa's legal framework is largely on par withinternational best practice in terms of the above issues. Rather than a lack ofsubstantive content in the legal framework, implementation and politicalcommitment (buy-in) appears to be inadequate. However, issues on whichSouth Africa's legal framework is found to be wanting include: a lack ofbinding RE targets and full costing in the energy sector; the Government'sreluctance to enter public–private partnerships despite its current lack ofcapacity; and an almost unfettered executive discretion in terms of REdevelopment and deployment.This dissertation concludes that the Government has failed to take a longtermview of the energy sector, choosing, instead, to accomplish interimsocial upliftment through short-term utilization of coal power at the expenseof the environment and future generations. This points to inadequatetransparency and institutional accountability in the sector. Vague legislativemandates and a seeming lack of political will and insight in South Africanecessitates a comprehensive legislative review before RE can play a part inthe future development of the country.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationJooste, D. (2010). <i>Towards a workable renewable energy framework inSouth Africa</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Law ,Department of Public Law. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/4705en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationJooste, D. <i>"Towards a workable renewable energy framework inSouth Africa."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Law ,Department of Public Law, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/4705en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationJooste, D. 2010. Towards a workable renewable energy framework inSouth Africa. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Jooste, D AB - This dissertation aims to determine whether a workable legal framework forrenewable energy (RE) exists in South Africa by comparing the country'sexisting policy and legislative frameworks in order to highlight strengths andweaknesses, and juxtaposing this overall position against contemporaryforeign legislation from the United States in an effort to discern relevant andviable best practices. Key issues that are considered include: theGovernment's commitment to RE and energy efficiency; environmentalprotection and RE as drivers for social development; job creation andsustainable economic growth; the governance of and relevant institutions inthe energy sector; public participation, education and access to information interms of RE; and, finally, the use of market-based instruments for the supportof RE in South Africa.The research found that South Africa's legal framework is largely on par withinternational best practice in terms of the above issues. Rather than a lack ofsubstantive content in the legal framework, implementation and politicalcommitment (buy-in) appears to be inadequate. However, issues on whichSouth Africa's legal framework is found to be wanting include: a lack ofbinding RE targets and full costing in the energy sector; the Government'sreluctance to enter public–private partnerships despite its current lack ofcapacity; and an almost unfettered executive discretion in terms of REdevelopment and deployment.This dissertation concludes that the Government has failed to take a longtermview of the energy sector, choosing, instead, to accomplish interimsocial upliftment through short-term utilization of coal power at the expenseof the environment and future generations. This points to inadequatetransparency and institutional accountability in the sector. Vague legislativemandates and a seeming lack of political will and insight in South Africanecessitates a comprehensive legislative review before RE can play a part inthe future development of the country. DA - 2010 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2010 T1 - Towards a workable renewable energy framework inSouth Africa TI - Towards a workable renewable energy framework inSouth Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/4705 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/4705
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationJooste D. Towards a workable renewable energy framework inSouth Africa. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Law ,Department of Public Law, 2010 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/4705en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Public Lawen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Lawen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.titleTowards a workable renewable energy framework inSouth Africaen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameLLMen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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