Page 46 - Energize November 2021

VIEWS AND OPINION

“Much like REIPPPP, the MER project including Mossel Bay, Overstrand, country’s wheeling agreement strategy
is innovative and unique, in that it allows Swartland and Stellenbosch. looks promising so far.
a variety of technology and energy “Energy utilities around the world “It’s also an essential component
mixes, as well as flexible financing are seeing the value in providing grid in achieving the UN’s Sustainable
and contracting models, potentially and wheeling services rather than Development Goal 7 (Ensuring
heralding a new ecosystem of complex simply selling energy. Putting wheeling universal access to affordable, reliable,
inter-related projects, with novel tariff structures in place is an essential sustainable energy), and the principles
methodologies and innovative delivery first step”, Fourie notes. of a circular economy, and in the short-
systems, in which wheeling will play a “In an environment where to-medium is a crucial tool in our post-
crucial role”, he says. external Environmental, Social Covid economic recovery plan and a key
Having published guidelines and and Governance (ESG) pressures ingredient in initiatives that will create
tariff structures earlier this year, the increasingly hold sway, wheeling employment and develop capacity,
George Municipality is running a pilot can enable a smooth flow into the while securing power for the people of
project exploring the practicalities of market for renewables-based IPP SA”, Fourie concludes.
wheeling, and fine-tuning the necessary projects. It can assist municipalities
legal and policy frameworks, but the achieve carbon-reduction goals, and Contact Scatec, Phone 021 202-1230,
MER initiative will ultimately span many corporates to achieve their net-zero post.za@scatec.com,
municipalities across the province objectives. Although still nascent, the https://scatec.com

Scatec’s Kalkbult solar power plant

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