• Government has published a determination outlining an intention to procure 14 711MW of renewable energy.
• This energy will come from a mix of solar and wind power, with wind making up the largest proportion of the figure.
• This determination was released after Kgosientsho Ramokgopa discussed an intention to continue using coal power for most of our power needs.

With Stage 5 loadshedding planned for later today, South Africans are eager for a resolution to the energy crisis especially after the National State of Disaster was ended last week.

On Thursday, as South Africa was preparing for the long weekend, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe published a determination regarding procurement of energy. The determination specifically highlights Mantashe’s plans to procure renewable energy, as much as 14 771MW of renewable energy to be clear.

That amount of energy would account for just over half of the total demand Eskom saw on Monday which hit 27 215MW. Per the determination, the energy split would be:

• Solar PV – 3 940MW,
• Wind – 9 600MW,
• Energy Storage – 1 231MW.

This generation capacity will be acquired by way of one or more tendering procedures which the minister says are “fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective”. The generation capacity procured should be connected to the grid “as soon as reasonably possible”.

Importantly this capacity must be purchased from independent power producers by Eskom Holdings. This process will take place between now and 2030.

What we really need to see from government, however, is a commitment and hunger to push this process through the halls of parliament. As Daily Maverick reported during his press conference on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa seems intent on relying on the nations tired coal-power stations to address our power needs.

This would have costly repercussions for not only our environment, but the economy as well given that the world is moving toward renewable energy and effectively shunning countries that aren’t.

With that having been said, 14 771MW of renewable energy sounds like a good start toward solving our power crisis. We just hope that the procurement process isn’t hamstrung by bureaucracy and ministers looking to “eat” from the public coffers.

[Image – CC 0 Pixabay]