From Momentum to Maturity: Taking Southern Africa's Solar Market to the Next Level

Tuesday, February 03, 2026

Time: 01:00 pm - 02:30 pm
Hall: Room: MWINA

Southern Africa is entering a new phase of solar market development, transitioning from early procurement-led growth to more complex questions around system integration, grid capacity, and long-term market sustainability. In several countries across the region, particularly South Africa, mature utility-scale and corporate PPA markets are now colliding with transmission constraints, curtailment risks, evolving market rules, and increasing demand for flexibility through storage and
hybrid solutions. This session will focus on how Southern African solar markets can be taken to the next level by aligning policy frameworks, infrastructure planning, and private-sector innovation, drawing lessons from recent reforms, emerging commercial models, and regional power market dynamics. Through a regional overview followed by a targeted panel discussion, the session will provide practical insights into how governments, system operators, and industry can sustain investment momentum while building a more resilient and integrated power system.

01:00 pm - 01:05 pmWelcome and Introduction

01:05 pm - 01:20 pmRegional Market Status and Outlook

Léo Echard

Policy Officer

Global Solar Council

01:20 pm - 01:35 pmCountry Focus: South Africa

Dr. Rathabile Melamu

Chief Executive Officer

South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA)

01:35 pm - 02:20 pmPanel Discussion

Mark Hankins

Finance Catalyst / Advisor

GET.Invest

02:20 pm - 02:30 pmClosing

To Program Overview

Speakers

Speaker

Dr. Rathabile Melamu, South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA)

Chief Executive Officer

South Africa

Dr. Rethabile Melamu is a sustainability professional and a leader in the green economy sector. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA), where she drives initiatives to promote clean energy and sustainable development across the country. Dr. Melamu holds a PhD in Chemical and Environmental Engineering from the University of Cape Town and brings over 18 years of experience in clean energy, environmental sustainability, technology commercialization, and the green economy. Her leadership experience spans several key roles, including Chairperson of the Water Research Commission and Trustee of the Mandela-Rhodes Foundation. She has also provided strategic insight as a Non-Executive Director across multiple private and public sector boards. Additionally, Dr. Melamu has held senior management roles, where she has successfully developed and implemented policies and strategies in energy, sustainability, and technology commercialization. As a thought leader, Dr. Melamu has authored numerous reports and thought leadership pieces on sustainability and green technologies. Her work has been widely recognized; in 2019, she was named one of Mail & Guardian's "Women Who Are Changing South Africa in the Public Sector." In 2024, she was also a finalist in the prestigious Standard Bank Top Women Awards, further underscoring her impact and leadership in the industry.

Speaker

Mark Hankins, GET.Invest

Finance Catalyst / Advisor

Kenya

Speaker

Léo Echard, Global Solar Council

Policy Officer

United Kingdom

Léo is Policy officer at Global Solar Council (GSC), the world's solar PV trade association. The organisation represents corporate members across the value chain as well as national, regional and international associations to accelerate solar deployment globally. He's in charge of steering the working groups on Finance and Grids, where the industry collectively decides on its priorities to ensure that solar is the main source of electricity by 2035. After a first experience in press relations, he worked for a year in an apprenticeship at the French Wind Energy Association, advocating for the offshore wind industry. Léo pursued two master's degrees: one from Sciences Po Toulouse in European Affairs and the second from Université Paris Cité in Energy & Society, providing him with a transversal academic background suited to tackle the complexity of the energy transition.