Renewable energy infrastructure, including solar panels and wind turbines, represents technologies expected to support South Africa's energy transition. Photo: Getty Images | File.

NNA News - South Africa could accelerate its transition to renewable energy, strengthen its electricity grid and expand local manufacturing through deeper energy cooperation with China, according to South African energy experts. The comments follow Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa's participation in the South Africa-China Electricity and Energy Investment Conference in Beijing, where he called for stronger strategic partnerships to support the country's long-term energy expansion plans.

Energy specialists say South Africa's renewable energy ambitions will depend not only on new generation capacity but also on modernising transmission infrastructure and developing local industries that can support the energy transition. Sampson Mamphweli, Head of the Energy Secretariat at the South African National Energy Development Institute, said China has become an important partner because of its experience in renewable energy development. "China is a strategic partner in South Africa's energy transition."

Mamphweli noted that China has built one of the world's largest renewable energy sectors while gaining extensive expertise in expanding electricity generation, modernising power systems and integrating renewable energy into national grids. He said closer cooperation could also help South Africa establish local manufacturing capacity by using the country's mineral resources to support industrialisation, technology localisation and skills development. One of the country's biggest challenges, he added, remains inadequate transmission infrastructure.

Limited grid capacity has prevented renewable energy generated in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape from being transmitted efficiently to major economic centres such as Gauteng. "China is a leading manufacturer of solar, wind and battery energy storage systems," Mamphweli said. South Africa could benefit from China's experience in delivering large-scale renewable energy projects while strengthening its own electricity network.

Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, highlighting the country's natural environment as South Africa expands its renewable energy ambitions. Photo: Chen Wei | 1 June 2026.

Professor Vally Padayachee, from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science at the University of Johannesburg and former Eskom executive, described the growing energy relationship as a significant development for South Africa's future power system. "We view China as a key strategic partner in realizing the full scope of our Integrated Resource Plan 2025 and Just Energy Transition."

Padayachee said cooperation in transmission infrastructure, battery storage and smart grid technology could significantly improve electricity reliability while supporting economic growth. "The greatest potential lies in the synergy between China's world-leading renewable energy capabilities and South Africa's urgent need for grid modernization and industrial expansion."

He also said South Africa's goal of building a domestic renewable energy manufacturing industry would benefit from partnerships that encourage local production and technology transfer. "Cooperation with China is vital, as it allows us to leverage their established industrial footprint to set up local manufacturing hubs."

As South Africa continues to shift toward a more decentralised, renewable-based electricity system, Padayachee believes international cooperation will play an important role in advancing green hydrogen production, battery storage technologies and grid modernisation.