SA needs to diversify energy sources to deliver
The country is not taking advantage of its clear lead in solar and wind resources
The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2018 is being finalised amid yet another electricity crisis in SA. And the agenda at the UN-hosted climate talks offers a sober reminder of the challenges the world faces in tackling a warming planet. Both have a bearing on how SA secures its energy needs up to 2050. However, in a dynamic and rapidly changing sector globally, SA appears to still be grappling with the basics instead of taking the lead in resolving key issues. SA has a wealth of solar and wind resources. Studies by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research show wind farms using only 0.6% of SA’s land mass could generate our required 250TWh/yr of electricity. A simple analysis of solar irradiance done by RMB shows that solar PV (photovoltaic) plants covering less than 1% of the Northern Cape land could generate SA’s power needs. Though initial projects had higher feed-in tariffs, prices have dropped at a far better rate than could have been expected, with current bid rounds f...
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