Eskom identifies Northern Cape as ideal location for renewable energy

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says the department is committed in its decarbonisation program and move from coal power to renewable energy. The minister reveal that the Northern Cape is a great location for renewable energy such as wind and solar energy.

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The minister was speaking during a media briefing following the ANC’s National Executive Committee meeting.

NEW POWER LINES NEEDS FOR THE EXPANSION

Ramokgopa says in order to make the move, the power utility would need to source enough renewable energy to replace coal and secondly add to the generation in order to accommodate a growing economy.

The minister says they have targeted areas in which would thrive as renewable energy sources and they are all coastal provinces.

“Where are the geographical areas with the best sources of the sun- you will find it’s in the Northern Cape. We are doing an atlas of wind speed and it’s in the coastal areas of Northern Cape, Western Cape and Eastern Cape. It’s those areas that present the potential for renewable energy” says Ramokgopa.

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However it is not all cut and dry as the minister says the power utility would need to strengthen the grid prior to allowing and accommodating the additional power. Ramokgopa added that power from these additional sources cannot be regulated.

“In order to benefit from those renewable energy sources, we need to strengthen the grid to accommodate the surge that comes with the new addition of power. It (the power) will come from as and when the sun decides to rise and the winds speed is up- that can’t be regulated. It comes when it wants to.”

RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION SHOWING GROWTH

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On Saturday Eskom reported it used 2 656 MW of renewable energy. Almost enough power to cover three stages of load shedding (stage three load shedding require 3000 MW of power to be shed.) The source of the power was mainly from wind energy which produced just over 2500MW.