Author(s): Nemushungwa Azwifaneli Innocentia, Kgaloshi Molebowe Frans, Nkondo Livhuwani Gladys, Munzhelele Tshilidzi Whitney
The transition to a green economy, green industrialisation, and renewable energy is integral to advancing sustainable development in South Africa, an upper-middle-income emerging economy facing energy insecurity, unemployment, and climate vulnerability. This study conducts a systematic literature review, guided by the PRISMA framework, to synthesise evidence on the economic, financial, and environmental implications of this interconnectedness. A total of 52 studies were included, highlighting the mutual reinforcement between green policies, renewable energy deployment, and industrial transformation. The results show that renewable energy investment, particularly in solar and wind, diversifies the energy mix, enhances energy security, generates employment, and stimulates local value chains. Green industrialisation, exemplified by initiatives such as the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), fosters domestic manufacturing, promotes cleaner production practices, and supports structural economic transformation. However, persistent barriers, including financing gaps, fragmented institutions, regulatory uncertainty, and infrastructural constraints, limit the full potential of these interventions. The study underscores the systemic interconnectedness of these domains: renewable energy provides a low-carbon foundation for industrial growth, green industrialisation reinforces economic inclusivity and technological upgrading, and the green economy framework integrates equity, inclusivity, and climate objectives. Policy and research efforts must thus adopt an integrated, interdisciplinary approach that aligns energy, industrial, environmental, and financial strategies to scale renewable energy solutions, mobilize private investment, and achieve South Africa’s climate and development commitments under the Paris Agreement and African Union Agenda 2063.