SA’s biggest landlord ditches national utility

October 26, 2025

Dear subscriber,

The grid-lords of the past are under pressure… but they are not out of options. Landlords are looking for power elsewhere, as we show today. Yet the nimble among the utilities also see new opportunities.

– Sammy Jamar, Editor

Growthpoint, South Africa’s largest real estate firm, has acquired a 30% stake in the 5 MW Boston hydro plant to supply clean power to its tenants, away from utility Eskom. The company aims to source 40% of its electricity from renewables and has already invested over $58 million in solar, owning 80 rooftop systems with a combined capacity of 61.2 MW.

  • The announcement comes two months after Growthpoint launched a blockchain platform enabling small businesses in South Africa to earn and trade Renewable Energy Certificates.

  • Africa’s power markets are evolving rapidly, with policymakers trying to keep up with where business leads. Virtual wheeling is a key innovation expected to support the transition.

  • Our take: Eskom should fast-track its renewables subsidiary to secure deals with new housing estates and capture new opportunities… Read more (2 min)

In its most ambitious climate plan yet, Morocco has committed to phase out coal by 2040 and triple renewables capacity to over 15 GW by 2030. This is the first time the country has set a definitive coal exit date in its “Nationally Determined Contribution”, a climate benchmark. The move will accelerate renewable energy projects to meet growing demand.

  • Morocco joins South Africa in moving away from coal. The latter recently announced plans to add 105 GW of new power capacity, with a large share coming from wind and solar to replace coal’s dominant role in the energy mix.

  • This shift could encourage other coal-dependent African countries such as Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe to follow suit, creating major opportunities for renewable energy companies to fill the emerging supply gap.

  • Our take: There could’t be a clearer opportunity for green capital, including climate funds and impact investors… Read more (2 min)

The renewables sector in Africa is booming, but international funding carries notable execution and financial risks. To show how these barriers can be tackled on-site, Renewables Rising interviewed Harrison Daka, Founder & Director of Daka and Associates Construction Brokerage, a Zambian firm specialising in construction intelligence and project strategy.

  • His firm works as a strategic aggregator, bringing together Zambian contractors to form compliant, financially credible consortia capable of bidding for large-scale renewable projects. 

  • Mr Daka says many renewable energy projects collapse because developers underestimate foreign exchange risk. His firm works with banks to allow developers to lock in exchange rates or create buffers against volatility.

  • Read the full interview here… (2 min)

UBA joins forces with Renewvia Solar to roll out renewable power in 25 branches across five states in Nigeria

Events

📆 Participate in the C&I Energy + Storage Summit Johannesburg 2025 (Nov 4)

📆 Join peers for the Youth in Energy Transition event (Nov 7)

📆 Attend in Africa Investment Exchange: Power & Renewables 2025 (Nov 17)

Jobs

👩🏻‍💼 Become Sun King’s Senior Fulfilment Associate (Togo)

🧑🏽‍💼 Lead d.light’s cash and inventory activities (Nigeria)

🛠️ Apply to Scatec’s Senior PV Plant O&M Technician position (Tunisia)

Various 

💵 Africa’s full electrification by 2035 requires $150B solar grid

🔌 SOGREA rolls out $25M fund for Sierra Leone mini-grid clean energy

 🤝 Diacente Group partners with GSN for $5.5B African asset tokenisation

Seen on LinkedIn 

Brad Rabbitte, Tech Commercial Lead at EDF Renewables (South Africa), says, "The renewable market remains to develop at a much faster rate than any regulation, legislation, or standard norm applied.”