The growth of the renewable energy industry – initially through the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme – will play a significant role in South Africa’s transition into a low-carbon economy and in meeting the country’s carbon emission reduction commitments made at COP17 in Copenhagen in 2009.
But renewable energy does not only make environmental sense: South Africa is experiencing a critical power shortage, with a reserve margin between electricity demand and supply of around 1%. To be able to reliably keep the lights on, a 15% reserve margin is required.
We need power and we need it quickly. Only utility-scale renewable energy projects can meet this need in the short- to medium term, and with relatively cheap, clean power.
