Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says that government would like to be “ultra-aggressive” in the roll-out of new renewable energy, which he describes as the “future”. However, key structural constraints, including those relating to grid capacity and regulation, had to be cleared to increase the pace of deployment and to ensure that the credibility of the public procurement process in particular was restored.
South African stationery and plastic products manufacturer Penflex will install a hybrid solar PV and battery energy storage system (BESS), which will halve its demand for electricity generated by State-owned Eskom and sustainably cut down on its biggest expense. The impact of the sustainable renewable-energy solution will help to secure the livelihoods of the families of its 300 employees and significantly reduce losses caused by wastage resulting from loadshedding, the company says.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for International Development has signed off on two financing agreements with Madagascar totalling $65-million to boost support for sustainable socioeconomic development and energy transition. A $35-million loan will support the Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound (Smart) Clean Cooking Project, while an additional $30-million loan will help develop transport infrastructure through the Facilitation of Commerce Corridors Project Phase II (PACFC II).
South African mining, industrial and construction industries services provider Provest Group has successfully established a solar energy system at its Steelpoort plant, in Limpopo province. Provest, which has a particular focus on the platinum, chrome and manganese sectors, implemented the solar power project to both boost energy security at, and reduce the carbon emissions of, its Steelpoort facility. “Loadshedding pushed us to explore alternative energy solutions,” explained Provest Plant Manager Martin Kubyane. “Our reliance on diesel generators contributed to increased carbon emissions. However, we recognised that with a solar installation we would be able to secure our power supply, reduce our dependence on the grid and ensure that we can continue to meet our production targets, while also reducing our carbon emissions. As a responsible organisation, the business case was very clear to us.”
South Africa’s ambitious Integrated Resource Plan serves as a “comprehensive roadmap” for meeting the country’s projected electricity demand, balancing financial considerations with climate change commitments to ensure a “sustainable and economically viable energy supply for the future”, says wind energy body South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA). Wind power, specifically, has achieved remarkable success in the country, with 34 operational wind farms boasting an installed capacity of 3 442 MW. About 3.6-million households are supplied with electricity a year – underscoring its efficacy as a dependable energy source.
South Africa recorded a landmark 160 days with no loadshedding, the longest period in over four years. However, maintaining future grid stability will require a doubling down on wind investment as well as higher spending on transmission infrastructure, says local renewable-energy developer Red Cap. Two factors contributed to this milestone: greater availability of baseload power, as well as the new supply contributed by private wind developers. As of August 2024, State-owned utility Eskom’s available generation capacity reached over 35 000 MW, which exceeded peak demand by more than 3 000 MW.
Leading green energy company G7 Renewable Energies is making headway in advancing South Africa’s transition to a green economy with various wind energy projects in progress for the purpose of enhancing the country’s Just Energy Transition initiatives. The latest projects in construction on behalf of G7 Renewable Energies are the 140 MW Brandvalley, 140 MW Rietkloof and 103 MW Witberg wind farms.
Technical and environmental engineering advisory firm Harmattan Renewables is continuing its participation in the Wind Industry Internship Programme, so that student employees in the sector can acquire the experience and skills needed to address the challenge of an ongoing skills shortage in the local renewable-energy industry. The programme, first launched in 2021 by the South African Wind Energy Association, will equip graduates with the necessary skills to address ongoing wind turbine operations and asset management, as ageing assets can be repaired, says Harmattan Renewables director Chanda Nxumalo.
Details on the approach South Africa will be taking to piloting Independent Power Transmission (IPT) projects as part of a strategy to accelerate the expansion of its electricity grid will be included in the upcoming Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), a senior official in the office of Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has confirmed. The MTBPS is scheduled to be released by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on October 30.
As South Africa tackles the next energy challenge of grid capacity, ENERTRAG South Africa technical head Dr Clinton Carter-Brown advocates for local collector grids that can integrate power from multiple projects and provide dispatchable green energy when combined with energy storage.
His comments come ahead of South African Wind Energy Association’s seventh yearly WindAc Africa Conference in October, in Cape Town.
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