Energy Department ramping up efforts to introduce more green energy to power grid, says Ramokgopa! Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has announced that his department is intensifying efforts to integrate more green energy into South Africa’s power grid, marking a significant step toward sustainable energy and economic stability.
Speaking about the country’s power situation, Ramokgopa highlighted that South Africa has been free from load shedding for 208 days, attributing this success to the current administration’s concerted efforts to stabilize the energy grid and increase capacity.
Energy Department ramping up efforts
Central to these efforts is the government’s push to accelerate the adoption of green energy. Ramokgopa noted that renewable energy not only offers a cleaner, more sustainable alternative but also has the potential to reduce electricity costs in the long term.
He emphasized the importance of diversifying the country’s energy sources to move away from a reliance on Eskom, South Africa’s state-owned power utility, which has struggled with inefficiencies and has been a significant factor behind the country’s previous load-shedding crises.
“There are lessons to be learned from the risks of monopolies,” Ramokgopa stated. “When a monopoly like Eskom falters, the entire nation feels the impact. We’ve witnessed the challenges that arise when a country is overly dependent on a single energy provider, and it is crucial that we address this by bringing in more independent power producers (IPPs).”
One of the key strategies Ramokgopa’s department is pursuing involves reforms designed to attract more IPPs into the renewable energy sector.
These reforms are expected to be introduced within the next four to five weeks, with the goal of making it easier and more appealing for private companies to contribute to the national grid. The involvement of IPPs could help to alleviate some of the pressure on Eskom, which has long been South Africa’s primary electricity supplier, and provide a more diversified, resilient energy supply.
Since 2011, the South African government has held nine bid windows for renewable energy projects, each aimed at boosting the country’s green energy capacity. Through these bidding processes, renewable energy producers are invited to submit proposals for building and operating energy generation projects that contribute to the national grid.
These efforts have resulted in a substantial number of projects, with 8,250 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity either already operational or currently under construction.
However, Ramokgopa acknowledged that the distribution of renewable energy projects has been uneven across the country. The majority of these projects are concentrated in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces, where conditions are favorable for wind and solar power generation.
He stressed the need to expand green energy initiatives to other provinces, particularly KwaZulu-Natal, which has not yet seen significant renewable energy development.
“In KwaZulu-Natal, there hasn’t been any renewable energy project to date. It’s essential to ensure that there is a better alignment between where the energy demand is and where the resources can be harnessed. This will help accelerate the procurement and development of renewable energy in a more equitable manner across the country,” he explained.
Ramokgopa further revealed that the government is currently reviewing projects with more than 8,200 MW of renewable energy capacity, which are under evaluation by the market. These projects are expected to come online between now and next year, contributing further to South Africa’s renewable energy goals and enhancing the country’s ability to meet its electricity needs through sustainable means.
The minister’s focus on green energy comes at a time when South Africa, like many other countries, is grappling with the global push for cleaner energy solutions to combat climate change.
The introduction of more renewable energy into the grid is seen as a crucial step in reducing the country’s carbon footprint and meeting international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Additionally, the shift toward green energy offers economic benefits. By reducing reliance on costly fossil fuels and stabilizing energy supply, renewable energy projects can help drive down the cost of electricity for consumers and businesses alike, while also creating jobs in the burgeoning green energy sector.
Ramokgopa’s commitment to expanding the country’s renewable energy capacity signals a shift toward a more sustainable and diversified energy future, with the potential to reduce load shedding, lower electricity costs, and contribute to economic growth. As the country looks to the future, the successful implementation of these reforms and projects will be key to ensuring a stable, resilient energy system for generations to come.
