Andre Nepgen on the future of renewable energy in South Africa

Episode notes

In this episode, Aki Anastasiou sits down with Andre Nepgen, CEO of Discovery Green, to unpack the rapidly evolving renewable energy landscape in South Africa. Andre explains how Discovery Green procures large-scale wind and solar projects and wheels that clean energy to businesses, helping them reduce costs, lock in long-term price certainty, and lower carbon footprints. With electricity prices historically rising well above inflation, renewable energy is becoming a strategic advantage for companies looking to manage risk and stay competitive. The discussion covers why early adoption of long-term renewable PPAs is becoming urgent, how trader-led aggregation models are reducing risk compared to traditional one-to-one agreements, and why grid capacity constraints could soon limit access to new projects. They also explore the impact of AI-driven energy demand, shifting market regulations, rising input costs for solar panels, and South Africa’s goal of reaching 40% renewable energy by 2030. If your business spends significantly on electricity, this conversation highlights why now is the time to rethink your energy strategy.

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