Investing in renewable energy skills in South Africa


With a constrained national power grid and a global move towards greener energy, many South Africans are considering installing solar electricity solutions at home. However, they are often faced with a tough choice: paying a premium for high-quality products or opting for more affordable products and compromising on quality.
In both cases, when the consumer experiences problems with the product there is often no recourse, as the consumer usually deals with a local agent – not the manufacturer that issues the warranty. We are bridging this gap by providing high-quality, certified renewable energy products at a lower price point, whilst also offering warranties.
EGA offers innovative energy access solutions, designed and built in Africa for African needs, including solar panels (TÜV certified), biomass stoves and 100% locally made stainless steel clean-cooking stove components.
Sharing our journey
Through a combination of innovative manufacturing, local expertise and a focus on sustainability, we aim to provide products that are both high-quality and cost-effective, making a meaningful impact in African markets.
Our Chief Production Officer, Charlie Leaper, shares two lessons from their journey that may be helpful for other manufacturers.
Invest in first-rate equipment; minimise supply chain costs
“High-quality production often requires advanced technology and equipment, which can be expensive and difficult to acquire for local manufacturers. Without modern machinery and tools, it is hard to meet international quality standards while keeping costs low,” Charlie says.
He explains that the EGA’s business started in Malawi and is now headquartered in South Africa. “We are an African company that understands the local markets, so we know what people are looking for and we focus on delivering that, rather than trying to retrofit products from overseas markets,” he says. “We also understand how to do business here. We manufacture our products in Africa for Africans, which reduces shipping costs and avoids import tariffs.”
By outfitting our facilities with custom-made metal forming machines and cutting-edge precision tools, we can achieve high production efficiency. These tools enable us to produce bespoke metal parts, improving quality while controlling costs through in-house capabilities.
Find a balance
Charlie says creating a sustainable business in Africa requires balancing production efficiency (such as automating aspects of the manufacturing process) and socioeconomic elements (such as job creation and skills development).
“EGA is a Proudly South African member, which means we’re committed to local socio-economic progress, and to making a meaningful contribution to building South Africa’s economy and alleviating unemployment,” says Charlie.
EGA primarily recruits our workforce from the communities in which we operate. For example, in 2024, when we launched our new solar panel manufacturing facility in Paarl, we invested in upskilling a previously unemployed community member, Shane Swaartbooi, training him to operate our state-of-the-art laser cutting machine, worth $1 million.
