Climate commission calls for revised IRP to upscale renewables allocation to 60 GW by 2030

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) is recommending that the next edition of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which is currently under review, cater for the building of between 50 GW and 60 GW of variable renewable energy by 2030, supported by co-located storage of between 3 GW and 5 GW, as well as gas peaking support. It adds, too, that if anchored on a least-cost approach, South Africa should not build any new coal or new nuclear capacity, while also noting that renewables coupled with storage represents the only realistic technology options for resolving loadshedding in two to four years, given the long lead times involved for either coal (10 to 12 years) or nuclear (12 to 15 years).
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Solar PV, wind to lead the largest increase in new renewable capacity a year ever – IEA

Renewable power is on course to shatter more records, as countries around the world speed up deployment. With the global energy crisis as a catalyst, solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind are set to lead the largest yearly increase in new renewable capacity ever, the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) ‘Renewable Energy Market Update’ report shows. Global additions of renewable power capacity are expected to jump by one-third this year as growing policy momentum, higher fossil fuel prices and energy security concerns drive strong deployment of solar PV and wind power.
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Ramokgopa says 2GW of powership capacity to be procured for five years

Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa confirmed with lawmakers this week that government intends pushing ahead with the procurement of electricity from powerships, amid ongoing environmental opposition to the floating gas-to-power plants and significant concerns over the cost implications and the term of the contracts.  “We are, as the Ministry, now going to commence with an emergency procurement programme based on powership solutions to give us an additional 2 000 MW and this amounts to two stages of loadshedding,” Ramokgopa said in a speech delivered as part of the debate on the Presidency’s Budget Vote.
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