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0 viewsThe future of solar power in South Africa was brought to light on Wednesday 25 January after Solarplaza, a Dutch-based company, held its first South African conference at the Sandton Convention Centre. The company aims to form links with solar energy businesses and markets around the world, startting with its most recent venture onto South African soil.
“People need solar service,” said Edwin Koot, chairman and CEO of Solarplaza, “people need it in a simple way”. In the case of South Africa, enough investment in solar energy ventures would have the potential to curb the country’s dependency on coal as a means of producing electricity, and instead switching to a photovoltaic solar system, or PV system, of producing electricity.
Photovoltaics is a system whereby solar power is converted into electrical power using solar panels. Despite coal’s abundance in the country, it is highly environmentally unfriendly. Guest speakers at the conference included Karen Breytenbach from the National Department of Treasury, general manager of Eskom Renewables Ayanda Nakedi and CEO of French company KilowattSol Xavier Daval, among others.
“Peak demand is one of the challenges we face in South Africa,” said Nakedi in her address, highlighting the increase in electricity demand especially over the winter months. Nakedi also added that the country is in an advantageous position as its geographical location allows it to have an average of up to eight peak sun hours a day, while regions in the Northern Hemisphere usually range within an average of four sun peak hours a day. Despite this, there is more of a supply of solar energy than there is a demand for it in the country. Regardless, the Solarplaza conference indicates that the low demand is about to change.
An important factor that will determine the increase in demand is whether the price of electricity will be lower once solar energy is used as a means of generating electricity for the country. “We’re driven by time and megawatts, [but] we need a sustainable programme,” said Karen Breytenbach. “If we want a sustainable programme, we need to make renewable energy cheaper.” On average, one megawatt, which is the equivalent of a million watts, can power up to 1000 houses for an hour. Currently, the cost of solar electricity in the country is R1.50 per kilowatt hour and there are hopes that the price will be even lower by 2015. Added to the search for a sustainable programme, is the government’s aim of creating five million jobs in the next few years if investment in building solar plants and implementing solar energy farms, infrastructure and programmes succeeds.
Solar power can significantly reduce a country’s carbon footprint but it also poses a threat to many of our cities as electricity is a major source of revenue. While solar energy is abundant in the country, the advanced technology and infrastructure needed to convert it into solar energy is costly, with estimates that certain PV solar grids could cost close to R50 000. Furthermore, while more jobs will be created, skilled professionals with backgrounds in engineering and mechanics will remain essential, albeit that they are still a scarce resource in the country.
“I would think that the biggest concern for everybody would be the confidence in South Africa as an investment place,” said Claude Peters, an audience member and managing director of England-based company, The Calvado Tree. Despite the challenges, South Africa is in no way behind, as Edwin Koot estimates that solar energy production will be alive and well in the country within the next 10 years if strong investment and infrastructure continue to remain promising.