South Africa Could Achieve 5.6 GW Wind Energy Capacity By 2020
Originally published on CleanTechies.
According to a new report released by GlobalData, South Africa has immense potential for wind installations over the next four years.
The research and consulting firm GlobalData report states that more than 3 GW of wind energy is expected to be installed by 2020 which will bring the country’s cumulative wind capacity to 5.6 GW.
The report also states that majority of the capacity addition occurred in the last few years, with 30 MW installed in 2013, 606 MW in 2014 and 483 MW in 2015. Until 2012, the wind industry was almost non-existent with just 10 MW of cumulative wind capacity installed.
According to GlobalData analyst Pavan Vyakaranam, the South African wind energy market is still new even after large capacity additions in the past few years, and has a huge potential for growth. He said that the country needs a system to determine wind speeds and other factors to plan installations, future developments, and infrastructure in line with the available wind potential at different locations and sites.
GlobalData states that South Africa’s wind industry has the potential to push the country closer to reaching its climate targets. In 2015, South Africa submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Commitments (INDC) ahead of the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) with an aim to limit the greenhouse gas emissions by striking a balance between the much-needed development of power capacity and the emissions arising from development.
Vyakaranam continues, “The energy sector is currently the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in South Africa, emitting close to 250 million tonnes (MT) of carbon dioxide equivalent. With more capacity additions underway, wind power will account for reductions to greenhouse gas emissions in South Africa by an estimated 6.4 MT in 2020 and then 12.7 MT in 2025.”
Wind energy capacity additions will be driven by South Africa’s landmark Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). Last year, the Minister of Energy, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, announced that she would approach the National Energy Regulator (NERSA) to make arrangements to offer an additional 6.3 GW in future auctions.
Reprinted with permission.
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