The cost, profitability and competitiveness of renewable energy. Solar thermal for heating, solar thermal electricity generation and solar photovoltaic electricity generation. State of renewable energy in south africa 2017 department of. Africa is richly endowed with fossilbased and renewable energy sources. The updated irp outlines a number of steps the government will undertake to improve south africa s unreliable and deteriorating energy sector, focusing on greater use of natural gas, maintaining the nuclear sector, while increasing the focus on social inclusion and a just transition plan to renewable energy 3. The total energy demand for sub saharan africa is approximately 267 mtoe comprised of 54% traditional energy 80% if south africa is excluded, 27% oil, 14% solid fuel, 3% hydropower and 2% gas figure 2. Sairec comes at a time when an energy transition towards renewables is accelerating worldwide. Renewable energy policy of south africa white paper south. Transfi i renew i ia annual average surface solar irradiance. Energy is a key enabler in south africa s trajectory towards socioeconomic growth and development. Procurement milestones and bid window status for the re portfolio.
South africa is facing consistent and rotational energy blackouts of up to 4000 mw per day and has encouraged companies to privately secure power rather than solely depending on eskom, the stateowned utility. Pdf as the seventh coal producer in the world, around 77% of south africas electricity is generated from coal resulting in a high level of. For example, wind power contracted through south africa s renewable energy independent power producer. This study examines the relationship between renewable energy consumption and unemployment in south africa over the period 19902014. Southern and eastern africa renewable energy zones. Recent developments in coaldependent, carbonintensive south africa s electricity sector present something of a paradox. The potential contribution of renewable energy in south africa. The transition to a green economy, and subsequently a more. Renewables in africa thought leadership linklaters. The first energy accounts for south africa, 19952001 was published in 2005, based on the department of energy s doe energy balance data and the adoption of an accounting framework used by denmark, where energy supply sectors were reported in columns while energy products. The page below gives an overview of the energy sector in south africa, explains power africa s involvement and lists power africa s financially closed transactions in the country. Comparing the value of improved variable renewable energy. Installed capacity is expected to reach 8,400 mw by 2030. Renewable energy in south africas mineralsenergy complex.
The profile also contains descriptions of the leading players including key financial metrics and analysis of competitive pressures within the market. South africa first explored the option of renewable energy feedin tariffs refits before choosing instead to pursue competitive tenders. As renewable energy becomes more affordable, there are signs that some markets in subsaharan africa would leapfrog fossil fuels technology and that africa s economic development could actually be driven by renewable energy technology. From 1998 to 2008, the region witnessed considerable growth 70 per cent in electricity. South africa world south africa distribution of solar potential distribution of wind potential 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% area. As figure 1 highlights, less than 2% of subsaharan africa s ssa energy. Excluding south africa, per capita consumption of electricity falls from 431kwh to 112kwh world bank, 2003. Renewable energy technologies are trending rapidly towards cost competitiveness with fossil fuels even cost parity, in some cases.
Of the local sales, demand was primarily from the energy sector, which uses coal to meet more than 77 percent of primary. The total energy demand for sub saharan africa is approximately 267 mtoe comprised of 54% traditional energy 80% if south africa is excluded, 27% oil. State of renewable energy lets grow south africa together. Pdf case for renewable energy in cape town, south africa. The south african energy sector is dominated by coal, which is plentiful and cheap, and is ranked among the lowest energy costs in the world. Rather, the renewable energy projects in question are embedded within and contribute to south africa s highcarbon, electricityintensive minerals energy complex. South africa, renewable energy, low carbon economy. South africa s main energy comes from coal, but one quarter of the coal we mine is exported to other countries. The potential of renewable energy to contribute to the south african energy mix is thus significant. Pdf renewable energy consumption and unemployment in south. Foreword by ms tina joematpettersson minister of energy southafrica embarked on a new journey since the publication of the white paper on energy policy of 1998. Empowering women in africa through access to sustainable energy. The approach taken in this paper is to build a system of two hardlinked models, one of the energy systems and a second of the national economy. Transforming lives through renewable energy access in africa.
As figure 1 highlights, less than 2% of subsaharan africa s ssa energy mix is. South africa is a growing renewable energy market with major upside potential for u. Alternative sources of energy for south africa in various. A renewable energy system that operates periodically rather than constantly, such as when the sun is shining or wind is blowing. However, it should be pointed out here that much of the. This plan highlights renewable energy sources as a great complement to energy power in south africa s coal power. Renewable energy policy in south africa africa portal.
Renewable energy in south africa market research reports inc. It provides an assessment of resources, finance management, policy and legal framework, and the capacity of the. Southern and eastern africa renewable energy zones searez interactive map south africa multicriteria analysis for planning renewable energy. South africa has one nuclear power plant, koeberg, with installed capacity of 1,940 mw. Countries like egypt, ethiopia, kenya, morocco and south africa are leading this effort, while some of. Estimates further indicate that a significant proportion of current electricity generation in 16 eastern and southern african countries could be met by bagassebased. Installed capacity of variable renewable energy vre capacity in south africa end 2017. Drivers and barriers for private finance in subsaharan africa 5 contents 1. Renewable energy as decentralised source has the potential to limit the excessive growth towards megacities.
The legal framework for renewable energy in south africa. This market intelligence report is designed to give a snapshot overview of each of the four renewable energy markets in south africa. Modelling the costs of constraining the transition to renewable energy in south africa 3. President jacob zuma, president of the republic of south africa. The department of energy estimates that 23% of this target can be met through solar water heating and eskom is therefore actively encouraging consumers to switch to solar water heating. Renewable energy in south africa market research reports. Nonetheless, under existing renewable energy policy few renewable energy projects for electricity generation have been deployed. South africa is a member of the international renewable energy agency irena, an international organization that promotes renewable energy policies. Notwithstanding the legitimate needs in rural areas, commercial realities and the pressing demands made of our limited fiscus, dictate that our initial ventures into renewable energy. The primary energy mix as determined from the national energy efficiency. While the continent has vast solar, hydro, wind and geothermal potential, these renewable resources remain largely untapped. South africa s renewable energy industry is small, but the country plans to expand renewable electricity capacity to 18,200 mw by 2030. Critical among the priorities of government at the time, which was characterised as a period. Operational, nonhydro renewable energy capacity of south africa 66 figure 25.
The birth and death of the refit program the national energy regulator of south africa nersa approved a refit policy in 2009 which incorporated tariffs designed. Of southern and eastern africa renewable energy zones searezs this interactive pdf map contains locations of high quality wind, solar photovoltaic pv, and concentrated solar power csp zones and estimated zone attributes important to the siteselection process e. Pdf on jan 1, 2010, max thabiso edkins and others published south africas renewable energy policy roadmaps. The south african government requires renewable energy to replace 10,000 gwh of electricity by 20. For south africa, this source of energy is not as desirable an alternative as one might imagine, due to the fact that south africa does not have that many large rivers. It includes detailed energy profiles of 11 countries that represent threequarters of the regions gross domestic product and energy demand. Modelling the costs of constraining the transition to renewable energy in south africa 2. The irena helps with tools to create policies and the transition of technology necessary for renewable energy. In 2014 several solar farms were commissioned, including the 96 mw jasper solar energy project, one of africa s largest photovoltaic power stations providing enough. Pdf south africas renewable energy policy roadmaps. Power africa has supported the development of 3,180 megawatts mw of electricity generation projects in south africa. South africa is taking steps to develop as a site for renewable energy generation. Table 5 renewable energy targets of african countries. The birth and death of the refit program the national energy regulator of south africa nersa approved a.
Up to 2015, south africa had the fastest growing green economy in the world and the program was lauded as one of the most successful renewable energy programs in the world. This chapter situates south africa s new renewable energy sector within the context of the countrys electricity system and in turn its unique political economy. Renewable energy re energy that comes from sources that are continually replenished, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat role player party involved in a public participation process e. Trends and potential electricity access in subsaharan africa is the lowest in the world, but investments flow into the regions electricity sector. Renewable energy policy of south africa white paper. On the one hand, the country is now a leading destination for investment in renewable energy, scoring twelfth in ernst and youngs latest renewable energy country attractiveness index recai 2015. In 2016, south africa had 1,329 mw of installed solar power capacity. South africa, primary energy consumption, 2011 65 figure 24. South africas renewable energy industry is small, but the country plans to. Renewable energy in africa is a huge opportunity to allow for a better standard of living for a large part of current and future population in africa.
Take advantage of our market research to plan your expansion into the south africa renewable energy market. Renewable energy in south africa 1079 words 123 help me. Renewable energy in south africa industry profile provides topline qualitative and quantitative summary information including. Solar power in south africa includes photovoltaics pv as well as concentrated solar power csp. This paper questions the extent to which the introduction of utilityscale, privately generated renewable energy into south africa s coaldominated electricity supply can be considered a lowcarbon transition. Energy resource guide south africa renewable energy. The current national plan for electricity includes an ambitious 19 gigawatts gw of renewables to be added to the grid by 2030. The reipppp has stalled since the end of 2015 due to liquidity issues at the national utility eskom. South african international renewable energy conference. Inclusive growth lessons introduction as a middleincome country with high levels of poverty, inequality and unemployment, and a legacy of historically skewed economic participation, south africa has been grappling with socioeconomic issues since the democratic dispensation in 1994 npc, 2011.
Euei pdf eu energy initiative partnership dialogue facility, 2014. Renewable energy consumption and unemployment in south africa. Main re industry role players in south africa 55 figure 23. Renewable energy potential in south africa several renewable resources have the potential to contribute significantly to south african energy supplies. In south africa, the power africa interagency team is working to support the countrys effort to introduce largescale renewable energy and natural gas for power and other uses into the economy, while assisting the government in their effort to strengthen and expand the regulatory framework. However, a continued reliance on oil and gas along with traditional biomass combustion for energy will bring considerable social, economic and environmental constraints. Quantifying the macro and socioeconomic benefits of a transition to renewable energy in south africa part 1. The state of renewable energy in south africa report was first published by the department of. In south africa, the power africa interagency team is working to support the countrys effort to introduce largescale renewable energy and natural gas for power and other uses into the economy, while assisting the government in their effort to. Installing solar kits in 211,950 households in rural ethiopia. United nations environment programme financing renewable. A renewable energy policy outlining avoluntary target of 10 000 gwh renewable energy. Renewable energy policy landscape in south africa wit press. The autoregressive distributed lag ardl model was employed to test the longrun and shortrun impacts of renewable energy consumption on unemployment.
The lcoe of some renewables technologies in africa is already costcompetitive with fossil fuels, as shown in figure 2, and african costs are generally lower than the global average for each renewable technology. Postapartheid electricity policy and the emergence of. Pdf the rise of renewable energy implementation in south africa. Case for renewable energy in cape town, south africa max t. Southern and eastern africa renewable energy zones searez. The national development plan ndp states that south africa needs at least 20 000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2030, cabinet said. The author charts major developments in the countrys energy policy and governance since the end of apartheid and shows how electricity policy is determined by economic, political, and technological factors.
Empowering women in africa through access to sustainable. South africa existing electricity supply summary for 2017 by technology adapted. This interactive pdf map contains locations of high quality wind, solar photovoltaic pv, and concentrated solar power csp zones. Introduction chapter 4 of the white paper on the renewable energy policy of. Apart from coal, which contributed around 69% to the total primary energy supply in 2016, south africa gets energy locally from biomass, such as wood. Stimulating universal access to renewable energy is essential to human and economic development, and catalytic to achieving all sdgs in africa, yet renewable energy in africa remains virtually untapped undp s role and mandate to support access to energy in africa is clear to meet the agenda 2030 goals, strong policy and. Transforming lives through renewable energy access in.
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