Sunny with a chance of wind: South Africa’s energy forecast
JOHANNESBURG – In South Africa, solar and wind are in, and coal is gradually on the way out.
That’s the key takeaway from the latest Integrated Resource Plan, which maps out the energy mix for the next decade. It envisions the nation’s total electricity-production capacity rising to 77,834 megawatts by 2030 — with the bulk of the increase coming from renewable sources — from about 52,104 megawatts.
A switch to more green energy comes as South Africa faces pressure to meet emissions-reduction targets. State power utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. produces about 95% of the nation’s power, the bulk of it from coal-fired power plants — many of which are approaching retirement and don’t comply with environmental standards.
Source: iol.co.za
