News
SA FACES TOUGH ROAD TO
NET-ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050
By the South African National Energy Development Institute ( SANEDI )
The International Energy Agency ( IEA ) – of which South
Africa is an association country – recently released a report detailing a way forward for countries looking to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 .
This report gives the world an even chance of limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 ° C . However , the recommended path to net-zero would be a tough one for South Africa to follow , considering our heavy reliance on coal . As the world prepares for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference ( COP26 ) taking place in Glasgow , Scotland at the end of November , South Africa must focus its efforts on tangible solutions for emission reductions .
“ Given the current South African coal-dominated electricity generation context , the IEA milestone targets will prove a lot more difficult to achieve than most other countries ,” says Lethabo Manamela , interim CEO of the South African National Energy Development Institute ( SANEDI ). Amongst others , the report , Net Zero by 2050 : A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector , recommends that by 2030 all subcritical coal‐fired power plants must be phased out and , by 2050 , global coal use must be 90 % lower than in 2020 .
However , Manamela adds that there is reason for hope . “ Recent signals from the State President , Department of Mineral Resources and Energy , other government ministries , Eskom and the private sector , shows a clear commitment by all the major decision makers to achieve this target .” She adds that this , however , must take place within a Just Energy Transition ( JET ) framework , which appears to be gaining a lot of momentum in the country and is sure to be a big focus of COP26 .
The JET is crucial for South Africa ’ s sustainable and inclusive move towards cleaner energy practices . In this regard , last year saw the formation of the Presidential Climate Commission ( PCC ) which is mandated to coordinate and oversee the transition towards a low-carbon economy and society which considers our unique socio-economic landscape .
“ The socio-economic situation in South Africa brings with it both a number of challenges , but also a lot of opportunities . That is why the emphasis placed on JET in South Africa is so important . The ‘ new ’ opportunities brought about by a transition to newer , more modern and clean technologies provide with it the opportunity to introduce many more innovative skills into the economy , which will go a long way in reducing the high
Mariana Proença | Unsplash
unemployment levels , especially amongst the youth , and it can potentially get the economy moving in the right direction ,” says Manamela . She adds that South Africa has many ‘ good news ’ initiatives in place to report on at COP26 .
For example , Phase 2 of the Carbon Tax due for implementation in the beginning of 2023 , will see a radically different carbon pricing regime that will accelerate the transition to a low carbon economy . Added to that , there is the envisaged growth in the Hydrogen Economy , which if successful , could see a major shift in the local energy landscape in the medium-term . In addition , SANEDI has been involved in the implementation of the recently gazetted regulations on Energy Performance Certificates ( EPCs ) for buildings , which will see building owners prioritising their energy efficiency initiatives in the coming years . Finally , President Cyril Ramaphosa ’ s increase in the licence threshold for people to generate power from 1MW to 100MW is another step in the right direction .
“ While the road to net-zero is sure to be a challenge for South Africa , we are up for this challenge . With many initiatives already in place , there is reason for hope as we work together to combat climate change . SANEDI looks forward to continuing its work in transforming our local energy sector to one which is sustainable , reliable and economically inclusive ,” Manamela concludes . RACA
The recently announced increase in the licence threshold to generate power from 1MW to 100MW is a step in the right direction .
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