The economic barriers and opportunities for community adaptation to renewable-energy opportunities in coal-dependent regions of Mpumalanga, South Africa: a systematic review

Mpumalanga, South Africa’s coal-dependent province, faces acute socio-economic risks from coal exit, yet the transition also presents substantial renewable-energy employment opportunities. This paper synthesises evidence on the economic barriers and opportunities for community adaptation to renewable-energy employment in coal-dependent regions of Mpumalanga, and identifies policy levers to achieve a just transition. We conducted a systematic review on economic barriers and opportunities for community adaptation to renewable-energy opportunities in coal-dependent regions of Mpumalanga. Cross-study synthesis identifies persistent barriers: pronounced skills mismatches (especially STEM and technical competencies), inadequate retraining and TVET provision, high capital and energy-storage costs, municipal fiscal distress, limited local manufacturing capacity, short-term and geographically mismatched job opportunities, and policy incoherence. Realising renewable-employment gains requires coordinated action on skills development, stable finance and incentives for local manufacturing, participatory governance, and social protection for vulnerable groups. The systematic review offers an evidence-based roadmap for policymakers, funders and communities to prioritise interventions that make Mpumalanga’s transition both economically viable and socially just. The findings illustrate that bridging skills gaps, securing appropriate financial and policy support, and bolstering local manufacturing can enhance the transition from coal dependency to a sustainable renewable energy economy in Mpumalanga.