Renewable energy gathers steam in South Africa

RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS

卷:41

Review

Walwyn, David Richard¹  Brent, Alan Colin^2,3 

[1] Univ Pretoria, Grad Sch Technol Management, ZA-0028 Pretoria, South Africa

[2] Univ Stellenbosch, Dept Ind Engn, ZA-7602 Matieland, South Africa

[3] Univ Stellenbosch, Ctr Renewable & Sustainable Energy Studies, ZA-7602 Matieland, South Africa

关键词: Renewable energy;    Learning curve;    Localisation;    South Africa;    Energy policy;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.rser.2014.08.049

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (the REI4P) is an extensive initiative to install 17.8 GW of electricity generation capacity from renewables - wind, solar, biomass, biogas and hydropower - over the period 2012-2030. Although at the outset the REI4P seemed an expensive option, designed only to deflect criticism of South Africa's high carbon footprint and excessive dependence on coal-based electricity generation, the escalating costs of the latter, the rapidly falling costs of photovoltaic and wind power, and the increasingly competitive bidding process of the REI4P have changed this prospect. At the conclusion of round three, the weighted cost of energy has reached a 23% discount to the cost of new coal-based generation and a 28% discount to global renewable energy prices. The bidders' commitments to local employment creation have similarly increased from 11 to 18 jobs/MW. The programme is now well placed to deliver on a broad range of objectives, including regional development and black economic empowerment. However, maximum benefit from the REI4P will not be secured without some revision to aspects of the bidding and procurement process. More specifically, the local content provisions need to be tightened to drive higher levels of local manufacturing. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free