Page 32 - Energize August 2021

VIEWS AND OPINION

New hope for renewables to ease SA’s energy woes

There is a new urgency in South Africa’s energy sector following the lifting of the threshold for companies to
produce their own electricity – and it could breathe new life into the renewable energy sector.

by Graham Abrahams, ABB South Africa

resident Ramaphosa’s recent lifting of the threshold, for companies to produce their own
electricity without a licence to 100 MW, has changed the game for renewable energy – and
Pindeed, the entire energy sector – in South Africa.
It’s an important step towards establishing energy security, which is critical for our country’s
economic recovery. It will enable companies to build their own energy facilities to cater to their
own needs. These projects will also be able to “wheel” surplus energy to the grid, which will help
ease a prevailing supply deficit estimated to be in the region of 5000 MW.
How much of a difference can 100 MW make to the broader energy landscape? More than
you may think. According to the national power producer, Eskom, 1 MW of electricity can power
650 average homes – which means 100 MW could supply the entire residential power needs of a
city the size of Kimberley, which has a population of 140 000.
While the announcement of the new threshold isn’t specifically aimed at renewables, it’s
clear that it’s going to provide fresh impetus to South Africa’s renewable energy sector. This is
at a time when our power grid is facing a major transformation driven by the need to integrate
renewable energy, improve energy efficiency and allow consumers more control over their energy
consumption. by Graham Abrahams
Earlier this year, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) launched the long-
awaited fifth round of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program recent months the ABB Ability team in Italy
(REIPPPP), for the procurement of 1600 MW of onshore wind and 1000 MW of solar photovoltaic installed an Electrical Distribution Solution
capacity. The IPP Office is also set to open bidding for 3000 MW of gas-to-power, 1500 MW of new System (EDCS) – now renamed Energy
coal and 513 MW of battery energy storage in the coming months. and Asset Management system – that can
The country’s biggest challenge isn’t necessarily creating new sources of power, though. It’s monitor electrical distribution points. This
how to move as much electricity as possible from new generation sites, whether renewable or system is available globally and can be done
not, without impairing the function of the power network that needs it. via a cloud-computing platform, which
allows managers access to an ecosystem of
Energy storage features that uses advanced algorithms and
That’s where modern battery energy storage systems (BESS) play an important part in machine learning to continuously improve
transforming the energy grid by driving wider adoption of renewable energy solutions and helping the site’s energy efficiency and power asset
to improve grid stability. BESS solutions level out load peaks and connect more renewable energy management.
to existing electrical networks, by balancing the sometimes-inconsistent supply of renewable With safe, smart and sustainable
power. solutions available to transform how we
In addition to voltage control, they also store surplus energy from wind and solar farms, which manage energy efficiency, the future is
can later be used to level out peaks in grid loading. This way, renewable power can be put to the indeed now.
most efficient use possible. This doesn’t just increase grid reliability but supports a longer-term
vision of decarbonising energy generation and making sure more of the country’s coal-dominated Graham Abrahams is Senior Vice President,
energy mix comes from renewables in the coming decades. Electrification Products Division at
Eskom intends to decommission several coal-fired power plants by 2030 as it diversifies its ABB South Africa.
energy mix to include solar and wind projects.
Ultimately, the key to realising the new power grids of the future are the digital solutions Send your comments to
that enable it. ABB Ability offerings can help with remote management of energy storage. In rogerl@nowmedia.co.za

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