iAfrica 2 months ago 2 min read
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Eskom’s recently tabled tariff restructure programme, which proposes changes such as charging consumers a fixed connection fee, may indeed improve the landscape for renewable energy in South Africa.
This is according to Tygue Theron, Head of Business Development at Energy Partners Intelligence – a division of Energy Partners and part of the PSG group of companies – who says that while there has been a fair amount of criticism levelled against the state-owned utility’s proposed plan (as well as its recent request for a 10.95% increase in tariffs), there is another way to look at the situation.
There were a a number of significant developments in the local energy space in 2020 and, while this sector generally tends to shift relatively slowly, 2021 is likely to bring with it some of the most progressive changes in South Africa s energy arena.
Tygue Theron, head of business development, Energy Partners IntelligenceExciting developments included South Africa’s ongoing decarbonisation efforts, decentralisation, the growth of energy as a service (EaaS), and the decline in renewable energy prices – all of which set the foundation for the coming year.
Despite the challenges of 2020, South Africa’s decommissioning of coal and roll-out of green energy continued, with the country still on track to have at least 11GW of coal power decommissioned by 2030, as part of the Integrated Resource Plan 2019.
Eskom implements stage 2 loadshedding
By Given Majola
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South African state-owned power producer Eskom to implement Stage 2 loadshedding from midday today until 23:00 following overnight generation capacity loss.
Eskom spokesperson Sikhonathi Mantshantsha said this bout of loadshedding would go on until Sunday.
“Eskom would like to inform the public that Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented starting at 12:00 this afternoon through to Sunday night. The loadshedding is necessary due to loss of generation capacity overnight. Loadshedding is also required to manage the use of the emergency reserves, which will help us contain the stage of loadshedding required. The system remains vulnerable and unpredictable, should any further breakdowns occur, the stage of loadshedding may change at short notice,” said Mantshantsha.