Enabling Municipalities to End Load Shedding through Embedded Generation
In the face of increasing electricity prices and the economic repercussions of load shedding, South Africans are turning to Embedded Generation (EG) systems as a viable solution. This shift in focus towards decentralised energy production has prompted the question: Can municipalities play a role in ending load shedding?
The National Energy Crises Committee of Ministers (NECOM) certainly thinks so. In their pursuit of interventions to combat the electricity crisis in South Africa, NECOM has identified EG as a key action. Here, municipalities emerge as crucial players in reshaping the energy landscape.
As implementing partner of the South African-German Energy Programme (#SAGEN), the NGO Sustianble Energy Africa (SEA) has developed the "Embedded Generation Resource Platform" (www.sseg.org.za) as the backbone of the Municipal Embedded Generation Support Programme, aiming to provide technical support to municipalities in the seamless integration of embedded generation onto their grids.
What exactly does the Embedded Generation Resource Platform offer?
- Access to Municipal By-Law Templates: Navigating the legal landscape is often a daunting task. The platform simplifies the process by providing ready-to-use municipal by-law templates, enabling municipalities to establish clear guidelines for embedded generation systems.
- Access to Policy Documents: Staying informed is key to successful implementation. The platform offers a repository of policy documents, keeping municipalities abreast of the latest regulations and ensuring compliance in the dynamic energy sector.
- EG Tariff Design: To reap the full benefits of embedded generation, municipalities should embrace excess electricity exported to their networks. The platform provides guidelines, tools and case studies on tariff design, cost of supply studies and asset costing providing the basis for a holistic approach of the topic.
- Guidance on Commissioning EG System Installations: Implementing embedded generation systems requires precision. The platform provides valuable guidance on commissioning, ensuring that municipalities can seamlessly bring EG installations online.
By empowering municipalities with these resources, the Embedded Generation Resource Platform becomes a catalyst for change. It not only facilitates the transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions but also positions municipalities as active contributors to ending the scourge of load shedding in South Africa. Together, with the right tools and knowledge, municipalities can light the way towards a brighter, load shedding-free future.
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This initiative is supported by the South African-German Energy Programme (SAGEN). SAGEN collaborates with South African partners to support the country’s transition to a reliable, affordable and clean energy future. SAGEN is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), co-funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in cooperation with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), the National Treasury (NT), Eskom, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI).
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