Eskom estimated that, without additional capacity, there would be an electricity supply shortfall of between 4,000 and 6,000 megawatts over the next five years -
Kangnas Wind Farm construction project manager, Manie Kotzé, said that besides serving the power needs of the country, communities in the region also stood to benefit through the plant's spin-off projects such as its developmental programmes.
Moreover, wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are on course to become the top source of electricity in a few years, first surpassing natural gas and then coal.
This is the view of Tygue Theron from Energy Partners a company which helps manage utilities.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said that improvements were continuing in municipal debt collection and despite load shedding, maintenance work was continuing at power stations.
The South African Wind Energy Association (Sawea) was reacting to the National Energy Regulator’s (Nersa) endorsement of the ministerial determination to procure additional power of just over 11,800 megawatts.
The new strategy also sheds more light on chief executive Bernard Looney’s plan to reduce BP’s oil and gas production by 40%, or at least 1 million barrels per day, by 2030 while expanding into renewable energy.
This forms part of 276 projects from all over the country now being handled by the Public Works and Infrastructure Department's Sustainable Infrastructure Development System Methodology.
Sasol says the move was part of its target of a 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 for its South African operations.
The minister on Monday announced that a separate entity would be allowed to start producing power.
The sizeable farm is set to be constructed in the West Coast peninsula near Vredenberg and St Helena Bay.
The country is also grappling with a power crisis that has hurt growth, temporarily shut down mining operations and threatened its remaining investment-grade rating.
Former Botswana President Ian Khama said that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is determined to resolve the issues around Eskom.
Scientists and environmental groups have long advocated a switch to low-carbon power to cap the rise in global temperature to two degrees Celsius, as stipulated in the Paris climate treaty.
The African Development Bank will on Wednesday announce all the deals that were signed and promised at this year's Africa Investment Forum (AIF).
Leading energy industry players and analysts – the energy-forecasting ‘establishment’ – are seriously underestimating the speed and depth of this transition.
The Land Party was born out of protests for land and housing in the Hermanus area.
South Africa isn't having an honest debate about proposals to fix its power utility Eskom, and the role that renewables might play.
