Switched-on green energy sector on same page as NDP

The National Development Plan (NDP) is designed as a blueprint to grow the economy, eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030.

More specifically, it calls for improving energy infrastructure in a sustainable way, increasing investments in energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions by diversifying the energy mix, and procuring at least 20GW of renewable energy by the stated deadline.

The NDP also accentuates the revision of the national electrification plan to ensure 90% grid access by 2030, with the balance met through quality off-grid technologies.

While the introduction of renewable energy into the system can be traced back as far as December 1998 with the white paper on energy policy, which articulated the objective to stimulate the introduction of renewable energy sources into the energy mix, the birth of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REI4P) is directly linked to the NDP.

The 2010 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) was launched with the aim of developing power projects that would add renewable energy to our country’s power system by 2030 and as a direct result of the NDP’s outcomes.

So, considering that the sector has just 10 years to go to deliver on the 2030 goal to connect 20GW of renewable power to the grid, it is a good time to see how we are doing.

Looking at the procurement figures, first we should take into account the latest IRP draft, which was said to be tabled at Nedlac. It made provision for 9,980MW of wind energy and 7,474MW of solar PV, which makes up a total of more than 17.5GW of new capacity of renewable power by 2030. If you add this to already procured renewable power, we will have well over 20GW of renewable energy by 2030, which is heartening.

Of the list of outcomes that need to be realised at the end of the implementation period of the NDP, a number speak to the implementation of renewable energy or the green economy. Obviously, outcome six, which looks to create an efficient, competitive and responsive economic infrastructure network, is where the green economy is positioned to make the biggest contribution.

However, the sector is also positioned to contribute to outcome 10 in a meaningful way, namely protecting and enhancing our environmental assets and natural resources.

The renewable energy sector is achieving this by providing clean energy and offsetting the need to use environmentally unfriendly energy sources such as coal.

Additionally, through the government’s REI4P, water savings of 42.8-million kilolitres have been realised from inception until the end of March 2019, as well as 36.2-million tons of CO² equivalent emissions reduction.

With the energy industry being the biggest driver of the economy, it makes sense that the sector provides the lever for existing and new green jobs.

We need to look beyond the concept of a “job”, which doesn’t capture all that is required for a successful developmentorientated power sector transition. Sustainability of any one particular job, working conditions and the level of contractual security provide key aspects. The 22 wind energy projects that have become commercial operations have reported 1,996 job years, in addition to the 32,140 job years that are expected to be created over the operational lifespan of the full wind portfolio.

Lastly, let’s remember the former energy minister’s clear message when he addressed parliament in 2018: “Energy drives sustainable economic development and growth and should take its place at the centre of a growing economy as directed by the NDP 2030.”

IT MAKES SENSE THAT THE SECTOR PROVIDES THE LEVER FOR EXISTING AND NEW GREEN JOBS