Tackling Africa’s energy crisis needs focussed approach
With many African countries struggling to keep up with the energy consumption demands of its citizens, the argument for a move away from unreliable coal-fired power stations has never been greater. This has left many African countries scrambling to adopt more integrated energy supply and demand systems across the board, with smart technologies, partnering with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), rigorous planning and holistic decision-making.
According to Jarrad Wright, Principle Researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa and speaker at the upcoming solar and energy storage event in Africa - Solar Power Africa, says that solar PV can play a valuable role in alleviating the African electricity crisis whether via utility-scale or distributed investments in solar PV and other technologies.
Wright explains that through this, the African region would be able to ensure sufficient supply to meet the ever-increasing energy demands. “This is where solar PV would need to play a significant role, considering the leadtime for investment, availability of favourable financing, economics of the technology and it’s ability to scale up and down.”
He pointed out though that to solve Africa’s energy challenges, it goes beyond just the technology to meet the demand. “Key to solving the energy crisis is ensuring that enabling policies are developed and there is a focused and committed approach to implementation of projects.”
While steps have been taken, such as new regulations to source power from IPPs over the next few years, there have also been calls towards giving greater independence to municipalities to produce or procure power directly from IPPs.
Nhlanhla Ngidi, Head of Energy and Electricity at SALGA and also a speaker at Solar Power Africa, says that as far as the choice for renewable energy sources go, Solar Photovoltaic (PV) energy is a no brainer. According to the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook 2020, the world’s best solar power schemes now offer the cheapest electricity in history.
“Over the last two decades, solar PV costs have become significantly cheaper thanks to infrastructure and equipment costs going down, technologies improving and governments across the world boosting clean-power targets as they seek to combat climate change,” Ngidi added.
In a report published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), it detailed the numerous benefits that renewables have for cities, from cleaner air, improved living spaces and an increase in modern services.
The report acknowledges that most cities are largely bound by national frameworks and infrastructure systems.
“Should the fast-tracking of the current amendments to the Electricity Regulations Act on New Generation Capacity succeed and a greater adoption by government of the value that municipalities can provide in supporting the countries energy goals, countries like South Africa and its African counterparts that follow the same path will have a much brighter future,” said Ngidi.
Focusing on enhancing the uptake and localisation of solar PV, Wright and Ngidi will be speakers at the virtual Solar Power Africa event, scheduled for 16 to 20 November 2020.