South Africa Can Go 100% Renewable, New Report Shows How

south africa renewable energy

South Africa gets a fair share of sun, from what I’ve heard. Also, with good wind resources to boot and technology that is clearly ready to scale, a new report released by Greenpeace South Africa shows how exactly the country can go 100% renewable. The Energy [R]evolution report “is a detailed and practical blueprint for cutting carbon emissions, replacing fossil fuels and nuclear power with renewable energy, and growing the economy,” Greenpeace announced this week. “It is one of the most comprehensive plans to resolve the country’s need for energy security and a sustainable energy future, ever.”

By switching over to renewables and investing in energy efficiency, South Africa would also create 150,000 new jobs in the coming 20 years. As I’ve repeated on here many, many, many times, renewable energy is not waiting for another breakthrough or two to be ready for large-scale deployment, and certainly not in a place like South Africa. It is ready to be deployed on a massive scale now. Energy [R]evolution shows, in detail, how.

Experts at the Institute of Technical Thermodynamics at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), the Dutch Institute Ecofys, the Institute for Sustainable Futures (Sydney), and the European Renewable Energy Council also worked on the report with Greenpeace.

Here’s more from the world-leading green organization on what an Energy [R[evolution is:

The plan put forth “offers South Africa independence from a fluctuating and volatile global market, cuts national debt, creates jobs, safeguards scarce natural resources like water, and will protect the environment for future generations.” What more can you ask for.

Again, check out much more over on Greenpeace.

Related Stories on CleanTechnica:

  1. Unprecedented UN Report: Renewable Energy Costs to Drop, Use to Grow Substantially by 2030, but…
  2. Full Cost of Coal $500 Billion/Year in U.S., Harvard Study Finds
  3. “Cleanest” and “Dirtiest” Internet Data Centers (Yahoo & Google Rock! Apple & Facebook.. not so much)
  4. Northern Ireland, Scotland, Germany Announce Big Renewable Energy Targets

Photo via coda

About Zachary Shahan

If you couldn't guess, I spend most of my time on CleanTechnica and Planetsave. I'm the director/editor of both sites and am a little obsessed with them and the topics they cover. I'm also Publishing Services Manager at Important Media, which means that I do everything I can to support other Important Media writers, editors, and directors (as well as the network as a whole) in the good work they are engaged in. You can also find my work on Scientific American, Reuters, Change.org, most of the sites in the Important Media network, & many other places. For more, or to connect, go to: zacharyshahan.com

  • Anumakonda Jagadeesh

    SouthAfrica energy regulator (NERSA) has new 20-year feed-in tariff rates
    that are greater than those in Germany
    (widely held as the model of feed-in tariff implementation) and Ontario:

    The tariff for wind power will be
    1.25 ZAR/kWh ($0.14/kWh). That’s more than offered in Germany by €0.012 and in Ontario by CDN$0.035.

    For concentrating solar power, the rate will be
    2.10 ZAR/kWh ($0.232/kWh). For hydro: 0.94 ZAR/kWh ($0.104 kWh); for landfill
    gas 0.90 ZAR/kWh ($0.10/kWh). Other technologies may be included within the
    tariff structure in 6 months.

    Renewables have great future in South Africa.

    Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore (AP), India

    Wind Energy Expert

    E-mail: Anumakonda.jagadeesh@gmail.com

    • Anonymous

      Wow, great news! Didn’t know about that. Do you have a link on that you
      could share?