An Assessment of the South African Photovoltaic Sector within the Technological Innovation System Framework

Abstract

Globally, a strong transition is taking place: conventional coal-based and nuclear energy-generating methods are being phased out as the world is advancing towards cleaner renewable energy production, triggered by increasing awareness of the threat of global warming and climate change. South Africa faces a major energy crisis and is in the process of expanding its energy infrastructure. The main challenge addressed in this study is the context of a country with a struggling economy, a high unemployment rate and widespread poverty. Photovoltaic (PV) energy could provide a long-term solution to the existing energy crisis, potentially develop and enhance local economic activity and make a significant contribution to eradicating poverty. This study investigates the strengths and potential barriers to diffusion, influencing the growth and adoption of PV energy by applying the Technological Innovation System (TIS) framework approach in the context of South Africa. Every well-functioning TIS comprises system functions fulfilling critical activities and processes that, in combination, strengthen the system. The TIS framework approach evaluates the seven core system functions, namely entrepreneurial activities, knowledge development, diffusion of knowledge, guidance of the search, market formation, resource mobilisation and advocacy/resistance to change. An exploratory case study was applied in the context of the TIS framework to evaluate the system functions and the link between them through an online questionnaire using a comprehensive sampling technique. The performance of each system function was measured using a Likert scale, whereafter the system functions were mapped graphically in order to compare their performance to one another. The extent of development of the PV infrastructure was determined by evaluating the system functions according to specific indicators relating to each function. The system functions were then mapped graphically, to indicate that the best performing functions had been calculated to be the resource mobilisation function and the market formulating function, and the worst performing functions the entrepreneurial activities function and the knowledge development function. The overall result achieved by the analysis was unsatisfactory, indicating the presence of barriers limiting the development and growth of the PV industry. Some of the most important barriers were found to be lack of funding, lack of knowledge, insufficient influence of the role of government and regulatory organisations, insufficient knowledge development, insufficient guidance, lack of advocacy and lobbying in promoting PV and insufficient knowledge shared through collaboration and networks. The study was concluded by suggesting policies targeted at removing the barriers.