Although solar generation is generally at the centre of the discourse on renewable energy, wind energy will be crucial for South Africa to overcome load shedding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since last week, South Africa has seen load shedding suspended or at lower stages for several reasons, including the increase in wind generation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eskom Generation Executive Eric Shunmagum<\/a> said that winter storms over the last few weeks helped to boost the output of plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking on 702<\/a>, Brian Cunningham, C&I Development Manager at Red Rocket Energy, said that more than 3,4000 MW of wind energy is currently on the South African grid, which can power roughly 3.6 million average households. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cunningham said that a major benefit of wind energy is that it generates power during peak times<\/strong>, such as 18h00 to 21h00, which solar cannot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He added that the private sector has moved incredibly quickly into getting renewable energy, with large companies, like Sasol and Sibanye Gold, looking to lower their carbon credits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, interest spiked when the government relaxed the rules on independent producers selling directly to major power users. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Grid constraints <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n However, despite the growing interest in wind energy, the grid constraint is having a seriously detrimental effect on the introduction of wind energy, with further investment needed to boost infrastructure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He said that farms in the Northern, Eastern and Western that have permits could produce thousands of MWs if the grid was not constrained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “Someone needs to pay to basically build a whole new grid to relieve the capacity,” he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, he said that once government improves its grid infrastructure and Eskom clearly explains how the grid will be divided, thousands of MW of further wind generation should be made available. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More potentially on the way <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In May, environment minister Barbara Creecy said that her department was processing applications for nearly 10,000 MW of renewable energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The applications for wind energy could produce 6,890 megawatts – equating to over six stages of load shedding, <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are working hard to cut the red tape and get these projects finalized,\u201d Creecy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have reduced our decision-making time frames from 107 days to 57 days.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although a lack of grid infrastructure is usually a major constraint, the minister said that 15 assessments on environmental impact are currently under consideration for transmission and environmental infrastructure projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As reported by Reuters<\/a>, electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said that 5,500 MW of renewable energy should come online by 2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ramokgopa added that over 66,000 MW of wind and solar projects were being developed across the nation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, although renewables will be key to tacking load shedding, Hartmut Winkler<\/a><\/strong>, Professor of Physics, University of Johannesburg, said that solar and wind have efficiency issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Winkler said that the intermittency of sunshine and wind in South Africa means that they only produce on average 25% (solar) and 35% (wind) of what they can under ideal conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hence, the current national shortfall of 6,000 MW would require, if only using one source, 18,000 MW of wind or 24,000 MW of solar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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