Renewable Energy Law

Established in 1982. Focused on the Future.

At Stadler & Swart Attorneys Inc., we recognise that renewable energy is essential. As South Africa faces the urgent challenge of energy security, the legal framework around renewable energy projects has expanded significantly. Developers, investors, and stakeholders need trusted legal partners who can navigate this evolving landscape with precision and foresight.

On 10 June 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced amendments to Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act, raising the NERSA licensing threshold for embedded generation projects from 1 MW to 100 MW. This landmark change removed one of the biggest obstacles to private sector investment in renewable energy. Today, projects up to 100 MW are exempt from licensing requirements, opening the way for unprecedented growth in wind, solar, and other embedded generation initiatives.

Why Choose Stadler & Swart Conveyancing Attorneys?

We have built a prominent market share in the Garden Route by serving property developers, estate agents and individual property owners. Our clients value the fact that we offer not only decades of experience but also a complete spectrum of conveyancing and notarial practice services under one roof.

With offices in George and Cape Town, we are ideally placed to handle both local and national conveyancing needs, including lodgments at the Deeds Registry.

Supporting Developers Every Step of the Way

As more investment flows into renewable energy, we stand ready to assist developers, financiers, and operators with the specialist legal support required to move projects from planning to reality. Our team conducts comprehensive compliance audits on large-scale renewable energy facilities, ensuring that every permit, approval, and licence is secured in line with South African legislation.

Consents under the Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act
Approvals in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act
Water Use Licences and general authorisations under the National Water Act
Compliance with the National Environmental Management Acts
including Biodiversity, Protected Areas, Waste, and Air Quality legislation
Licenses and permits under the National Forests Act
and National Heritage Resources Act
Compliance with the Civil Aviation Act
and the Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act
Consents under the Advertising on Roads and Ribbon Development Act
and related Roads Ordinance
Consideration of land claims under the Restitution of Land Rights Act
Consents under the Electronic Communications Act
Full legal audits for projects
under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP)

A Proven Track Record in Renewable Energy

Our firm has been privileged to advise some of the country’s leading renewable energy developers. In April 2021, during the 5th Bid Submission Phase of the REIPPPP, South Africa Mainstream Renewable Power Developments (Pty) Ltd submitted bids for 22 projects. Stadler & Swart Attorneys was appointed to conduct all land use legal audits and 10 environmental legal audits for these projects.

Of the 25 bids ultimately awarded preferred bidder status by the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mainstream received 12, making them one of the most successful participants in the round. We are proud to have played a part in this achievement, underscoring our ability to deliver trusted legal support in a competitive and high-stakes environment.

Your Partner in Renewable Energy Law

From solar farms to wind energy facilities, renewable projects demand a legal team with both heritage in property law and expertise in emerging energy regulation. At Stadler & Swart Attorneys Inc., we bring decades of experience and a forward-looking approach to every mandate, helping our clients manage risks, unlock opportunities, and contribute to a sustainable energy future for South Africa.

Contact us today to learn how our renewable energy law specialists can support your project.

Experience you trust. Progress you can count on.

Why Developers Choose Stadler & Swart

At Stadler & Swart, we pride ourselves on:

Depth of specialist experience: André Swart has been practising as an attorney and conveyancer since 1992, holds an LLM specialising in planning and environmental law, and has decades of experience in property, planning, environmental and water law.

Proven track‑record in development matters: The firm’s history includes acting for prominent developers, large‑scale sectional‑title schemes and complex multi‑discipline projects.

Strategic, integrated advice: Not simply regulatory “check‑boxes” but advice targeted to your business objectives: unlocking development value, avoiding delays and aligning approvals, energy strategy and conveyancing.

Local knowledge and networks: Deep experience with municipalities, land‑use tribunals, environmental regulation and property transfers in the Garden Route, Cape Town and broader Western Cape.

Conveyancing: Our friendly team of conveyancing paralegals are seasoned professionals with years of experience. They are dedicated to guiding clients through every step of the process with clarity and care. Stadler & Swart Attorneys is also proudly represented on the conveyancing panels of major financial institutions, including ABSA Bank, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Investec, FNB, and SA Home Loans.

  • Stadler & Swart Inc have been our development attorneys over many years, and they have demonstrated their expertise not only in respect of property, land use and environmental law, but also in providing high quality conveyancing services. They attend to all our conveyancing needs at Paradise Coast which includes the drafting of all contracts. If you need to keep any property lawyer close to you, this is the firm to associate with.

    G A van Rensburg, Managing Director, Nuvest (Pty) Ltd

  • Stadler & Swart Inc and specifically Mr. André Swart represents the Devonbosch Development, Stellenbosch. In our experience, Mr. Swart and his team have demonstrated their complete professionalism and high competency in understanding our case and guiding us strategically through all the legal options available to us. Mr. Swart and his colleagues have always ensured their availability for consultation and we have provided the best possible level of service.

    Pieter van der Westhuizen, Development Manager, Devonbosch, Stellenbosch

  • Stadler & Swart Inc have been the development attorneys for the Groenkloof Retirement Village Group since the Group's inception in 2003. They have provided expert assistance in obtaining the development rights and environmental approvals and have executed excellent conveyancing services for our developments. Stadler & Swart Inc's contribution to a development such as ours has proven invaluable and we proudly associate with them.

    Jan Pienaar, Managing Director, Groenkloof Retirement Village Group

  • Stadler & Swart Attorneys are a highly respected property law specialist firm and render land use and environmental law advice of an exceptional quality. I have worked with them over many years in respect of matters in the Garden Route as well as in the Stellenbosch area and they have consistently proven themselves experts in the fields they specialise in.

    Hendrik Kotze, Director, Werksmans Inc.

  • In my capacity as a practicing member of the Cape Bar, I have over the past 15 years been regularly briefed by Mr Andre Swart, as well as by certain of his associates, in a range of planning, environmental and general property matters. Many of these matters have been complex and demanding. I regard Mr Swart as being one of the most experienced and competent attorneys with whom I have worked over the past 35 years, in what are highly specialised fields in which he practices. I can think of few, if any, property lawyers better equipped than Mr Swart to render specialised legal services to property owners, property developers and others operating in this field, particularly where one is dealing with large developments requiring high planning, property and environmental expertise.

    Adv Sean Rosenberg SC

  • Stadler & Swart Attorneys Inc have advised our group of companies in a number of complex property matters. Their specialist knowledge and experience have been of huge value to us.

    Arno de Vos, Director, Cape Estates

  • I have worked with Andre Swart of Stadler & Swart Inc for several years and can attest professionalism, knowledge and experience, in particular in respect of matters relating to property, planning and environmental law.

    David Hertz, Chairman of Werksmans Attorneys

  • Stadler & Swart Attorneys Inc have advised our group of companies in a number of complex property matters. Their specialist knowledge and experience have been of huge value to us.

    Arno de Vos, Director, Cape Estates

  • Stadler & Swart Attorneys have advised the Atterbury Group of Companies over many years and their specialist knowledge and experience in the fields of property development and environmental law is invaluable. If you get involved in a complex or challenging property transaction, I would strongly recommend them.

    Louis van der Wast, Atterbury Group CEO