Context
South Africa considers the development of renewable energies and the efficient use of energy as a high political priority in the context of bottlenecks in the electricity supply and rising energy prices. This is reflected in corresponding political guidelines, strategies and funding programs. However, the implementation of this national policy needs to be supported.
Significant progress has been made in the use of renewable energy and increased energy efficiency. Nevertheless, further improvements are needed, both in terms of framework conditions and their actual implementation. In the area of renewable energies, for example, the potential of small, decentralized systems such as photovoltaic (PV) roof systems is not exhausted. There is less investment in energy efficiency than would be possible. And government funding for potential private and public investors is not always fully retrieved. The energy program addresses these challenges.
Objective
The framework conditions for public and private investments in renewable energies and energy efficiency as well as their implementation processes are improved.
Approach
The South African-German program SAGEN supports the South African Ministry of Energy, the municipal umbrella organization SALGA (South African Local Government Association), individual municipalities, the South African electricity provider Eskom and other partners in improving renewable energy and energy efficiency policies and programs. The focus is on improving the framework conditions and implementing existing strategies and funding mechanisms. Here, SAGEN supports national, provincial and municipal levels.
The program brings together international know-how, helping Eskom and the municipalities to ensure the smooth integration of renewable energy into the grid. The focus is on both large-scale projects and PV rooftop systems. In addition, SAGEN also supports municipalities in introducing the necessary approval procedures for PV rooftop systems in their distribution networks or in identifying and implementing investments in energy efficiency.
Results
The nationwide tendering procedure for renewable energies, which SAGEN supports, for example, with regard to the grid integration of renewable energies, has so far awarded plants with a total output of more than 6,000 megawatts (MW) to private power producers. Of these, plants with a capacity of approximately 4,000 MW have already been connected to the grid. Operating these facilities will reduce CO2 emissions in South Africa by more than 10 million tonnes annually. According to publications by the Department of Energy, the total investment amounts to almost 200 billion South African rand (about 13 billion euros).
The installed capacity of private and commercial photovoltaic rooftops increased from around 30 MW (2014) to more than 300 MW (2018). SAGEN supports the municipalities in setting up the necessary application and approval procedures. By supporting the introduction of a quality seal for photovoltaic systems - the so-called PV GreenCard - the program helps to ensure the quality of the installations and promote sustainable development of the market. More than 50 companies have so far subscribed to the photovoltaic green card program.
As part of a national funding program, more than 90 municipalities have already taken energy efficiency measures. These include energy-efficient street lighting, energy management and the energy-efficient refurbishment of public buildings. Energy efficiency measures introduced by SAGEN have reduced electricity consumption by more than 200 million kilowatt hours (kWh) per year.