Cape Town - South Africa has the natural resources to develop renewables as alternative energy.
This was the focus of discussion during the Energy Africa Conference – a side event at the SA International Renewable Energy Conference at the Cape Town International Convention Centre yesterday.
During the conference, Dr Luka Powanga, a Regis University professor from the US, said when it came to natural resources being used for energy, it had to be done strategically.
“When we look at Africa, we can develop a model like what is done being done in other countries,” said Powanga.
Doug Arent, US National Renewable Energy Laboratory executive director, spoke of the synergy of natural gases and renewables as one of the energy mixes for a low-carbon future in South Africa, citing wind and solar energy.
The global wind power market has added 51GW to the global market. This is the most renewable technology produces for the year-end, with a total of 370GW. Wind energy is also one of the lower-cost options in new markets such as Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Eskom’s grid-planning general manager Mbulelo Kibido said the company had published extensive studies on creating more capacity for the grid. He said 2 000MW of energy had been created so far.
SA Oil and Gas Alliance executive chairperson Mthozami Xiphu said more infrastructure was needed to improve the country’s oil and gas sector. He pointed to possible gains through Saldanha Bay and Durban ports.
CAPE TIMES