Reuters

A move towards solar would also support the New Growth Path initiative by providing thousands of jobs and training low-skilled workers. Photo: Reuters

Increasing capacity towards solar power will enable SA to become “a major player” in the industry and create thousands of jobs, the chairman of a southern African solar association said on Wednesday.

The government's current solar generation capacity targets were too low to stimulate the solar industry, Pancho Ndebele, who chairs the Southern Africa Solar Thermal and Electricity Association (Sastela), said.

“For South Africa to become a major player in the solar industry from both a manufacturing and generating perspective, we really need to look at expanding and building upon the opportunities within the solar energy field.”

The government has currently allocated 200MW of concentrated solar power (CSP) by 2015 and 600 MW by 2019.

“This is far below what South Africa has the potential to achieve. In fact, we should be targeting at least 2GW of CSP by 2020,” he said.

Ndebele said a move towards solar would also support the New Growth Path initiative by providing thousands of jobs and training low-skilled workers.

If the government allocated a greater target towards solar power it would attract manufacturers and investors to develop the solar power industry, which in turn would help to attract more competitors and drive down costs.

Ndebele is due to present at a public hearing at the government's 20-year-electricity capacity plan in Johannesburg this week.

Jose Alfonso Nebrera, chairman of the European Solar Thermal and Electricity Association, who was presenting the results of a recent solar study at a Sastela workshop, said the cost of harnessing solar energy had been declining due to constant improvements being made to the technology.

“International studies have shown that the cost of generating solar power could be reduced significantly over the next ten years,” Nebrera said.

He said the study revealed that generation costs of solar thermal electricity could be reduced by up to 30 percent in 2015, and by more than 50 percent by 2025.

The adoption of effective solar energy targets are particularly crucial for countries such as South Africa, which not only have abundant levels of solar irradiation but also have a need for further job creation and investment, he said.

“Given that solar thermal electricity generates more jobs per MW across the value chain than most renewables and conventional energy sources, it is urgent that policy makers and society at large understand the role solar electricity can play in the IRP 2010.” - Sapa