Renewable energy solutions are increasingly being considered as a means to address climate change and provide sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities in South Africa. Theoretical development based on literature review and expert consultation without empirical data collection. The theoretical framework underscores the importance of community participation and trust-building as critical components for successful renewable energy projects in coastal areas. Adopting participatory methods, such as co-design workshops and regular communication sessions, is recommended for future intervention studies. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.