Solar, wind and wave power could generate up to 90 percent of South Africa's electricity by 2050, according to a study under discussion by business, government and civil society.
However, to achieve such a great change in the long term the country had to start laying the foundations soon, the study noted.
The Study of the Potential of Renewable Energy in South Africa was launched at the third Sustainable Energy Symposium at the Development Bank of Southern Africa in Midrand on Wednesday.
Commissioned by Earthlife Africa Johannesburg's sustainable energy and climate change project (SECCP), it explores how South Africa can make full use of its renewable resources instead of relying on fossil fuels.
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'South Africa is effectively planning in the dark' Criticising other studies commissioned by the department of minerals and energy and "vested interests in the energy sector", Earthlife Africa said they legitimised "more business as usual".
"They do not look at the longer term or take account of the costs of failing to respond to escalating climate change," said SECCP co-ordinator Richard Worthington.
"There is so far no commitment to quantify the social and environmental costs and benefits of energy supply, despite a process known as integrated energy planning, so South Africa is effectively planning in the dark," he said.
This latest study suggests that solar thermal generation will become economically competitive with new coal-fired generation in about 10 years.
One scenario puts forward a significant role for wave power starting in the mid 2020s, with hydrogen technology coming into play closer to 2050.
While considerable costs would be involved, they would be investments in the local economy and would have massive social and environmental benefits, the study continues.
Conducted by RAPS Consulting and Nano Energy, the study argues that developing local industries for the manufacture of renewable energy technologies will reverse the on-going trend of job losses in the energy sector.
A previous SECCP-commissioned study had already established that switching 15 percent of electricity generation to renewable resources by 2020 could be achieved with net savings to the economy, said Earthlife Africa.
A subsequent study showed that this would produce 36 400 new direct jobs with no losses elsewhere, it said. - Sapa
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