www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I November 2023 7
Associations
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN ASSISTING SA TO OVERCOME LOADSHEDDING ?
Written by Eamonn Ryan
On 21 June , Creamer Media hosted a panel discussion on the subject Renewable Energy : What is the role of renewable energy in assisting South Africa to overcome loadshedding ? Associations , Energy and Water Sector Education Training Authority ( EWSETA ) and South African Wind Energy Association ( SAWEA ) participated .
The discussion hosted bt Creramer Media unpacked the following questions :
• What reforms have sparked the current rapid expansion in renewable energy and how rapidly are renewable energy solutions growing in South Africa ?
• What is the breakdown of the major demand drivers for renewable energy solutions among businesses , households and small and large-scale investments ?
• What technology platforms deal best with the variable nature of wind and solar energy sources ? Is there potential for upstream manufacturing of renewable energy components in South Africa ?
• What downstream advantage will increased renewable energy use have for South African industry ?
The panel consisted of :
• Mpho Mookapele , CEO : EWSETA
• Santosh Sukhram , Senior Technical Advisor at the South African Wind Energy Association ( SAWEA )
• Dr Rethabile Melamu , CEO : SAPVIA
• James Beatty , CEO : Enpower Trading
Loadshedding has far-reaching implications for individuals and businesses alike . It disrupts daily life , eroding our ability to plan and execute tasks efficiently . Moreover , its economic consequences cannot be ignored . The Reserve Bank estimates that load shedding costs the South African economy a staggering R300 billion , equivalent to 5 % of GDP , and has led
to the loss of approximately 600 000 jobs . It is evident that implementing effective measures to address loadshedding is paramount , and renewable energy emerges as a crucial component of the solution .
EWSETA
Energy & Water Sector Education Training Authority ( EWSETA )
SAWEA
South African Wind Energy Association ( SAWEA ).
According to the modelling conducted by the Presidential Climate Commission and the CFI , renewable energy offers a compelling pathway to cheaper electricity . Leveraging the concept of least cost energy modeling , renewables can contribute to a more affordable energy landscape in South Africa . Encouragingly , recent surveys indicate that there are nearly 60 000Mw of renewable energy projects in the pipeline , a testament to the success of the government ' s renewable energy programme and evolving regulatory frameworks .
While South Africa boasts abundant natural resources for renewable energy , significant challenges persist . Access to the grid , particularly in high-resource areas like the Northern Cape and Western Cape , poses a significant obstacle to the timely integration of renewable projects . Grid capacity constraints and regulatory complexities hinder the growth of energy trading , necessitating the establishment of an internal framework . Additionally , the renewable energy sector requires a skilled workforce capable of deploying and maintaining renewable technologies at scale . Although South Africa possesses artisans and engineers , their experience in the sector often falls short , highlighting the need to address skill gaps comprehensively .
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www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I November 2023 7