Renewable & clean energy
Cape Town has a wealth of untapped renewable energy resource potential – primarily in wind, small-scale solar, photovoltaics, solar thermal and possibly wave applications.
An independent power producer (IPP) is developing the first commercial utility-scale windfarm for grid electricity generation in Darling, to the north of the City. Additionally, Eskom has established a demonstration windfarm in Klipheuwel, also north of Cape Town.
It is estimated that in 2000 the Western Cape was responsible for 26% of the value of South Africa’s renewable energy industry, making it a notable centre of energy expertise.
The national target for energy from renewable sources is 10 000 GWh/yr in 2013 (approximately 4% of projected electricity demand).
The National Department of Minerals and Energy forecasts that only 1% will come from wind, the rest from biomass and landfill gas projects. Most of these projects will not be in the Western Cape area. However, after 2013, the Department of Minerals and Energy’s projection states that the majority of new renewable energy will have to come from wind power. In the medium and long-term, solar thermal, solar photovoltaic and wave will also play a significant role.
Cape Town’s renewable energy focus at present is on wind generation and solar water heaters, and the City has made commitments at the Bonn 2004 International Renewable Energy Conference in this regard. In addition, the City is adopting a strong energy efficiency focus. [In 2005, the Renewable Energy Finance and Subsidy Office (REFSO) was established. A once-off capital grant has been made available for project developers in 2005/06 – 2007/08 financial years. The subsidies for 2005/6 are R250 / kW capacity for
electricity; R273 / kl capacity / year for biodiesel and R167 / kl capacity / year for bio-ethanol or equivalents for other RE technologies.
The subsidy can not exceed 20% of the total capital cost, and minimum project size is 1 MW (for electricity), implying a subsidy amount of R250 000.3]
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The SAAEA commends Cape Town on their efforts.
