Paper short abstract:

This paper analyses the potential opportunities and obstacles for rising powers to cooperate on low-carbon development by using a case study on China’s involvement in South Africa’s renewable energy sector.

Paper long abstract:

Developing countries are responsible for nearly 65% of global carbon emissions of which the majority from emerging economies, including China, India and South Africa. Hence south-south cooperation on low-carbon development, particularly among the rising powers, is a significant component to make sure the historic Paris climate change deal can be realised. This paper investigates how China is engaging in South Africa's renewable energy sector and seeks to answer the following research questions: i) How are domestic policies and politics within China and South Africa shaping cooperation between the two countries in renewable energy sectors? How transformative are Chinese activities in wind and solar PV sectors, in terms of challenging and destabilising the coal-dominated energy system within these two countries?

Based on intensive field investigations in both countries and interviews with stakeholders from government departments, industry and finance, this research aims to identify the key institutional arrangements and interest configurations that either promote or deter China's increasing involvement in South Africa's renewable energy sector. Our initial findings thus far are that the nature of China's involvement in South Africa's renewable energy sector is rather different to most Sino-African energy investment such as hydro-electricity in Ethiopia, Congo or Sudan. Rather than being driven by a bi-lateral political relationship, most Chinese investors and technology suppliers are competing with other international companies as part of a commercially driven process. Such mode of cooperation are more likely influenced by the configuration of global value chain and domestic market or policy fluctuations.