Wind power 'cheaper than coal'

13 February 2013 - 03:09 By SCHALK MOUTON
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Renewable energy sources such as wind power could contribute almost 40% of the country's power demand in 20 years.

This is according to Ian Macdonald of the SA Wind Energy Association, who believes wind power producers would be able to "comfortably" generate 30000MW of power in the next 20 years.

Eskom currently generates about 43000MW to supply the whole country with electricity. The country's energy consumption is estimated to increase to about 80000MW in 20 years.

"That [30000MW] is an ambitious target for us to work towards," said Macdonald.

The Department of Energy has commissioned eight new wind farms to produce 633MW in its renewable energy independent power producers procurement programme.

The wind farms make up part of a mix of renewable energy projects, which includes solar parks, bio and landfill gas, and small hydro-electric works, to produce about 3700MW power by 2014. The first of these projects was signed off in November, and construction on some of the wind farms and solar parks has already started.

Energy Minister Dipuo Peters yesterday launched a solar park in Postmasburg in Northern Cape.

The Lesedi photovoltaic park is expected to deliver 64MW of electricity - enough to power 2000 homes - with an expected life-span of 20 years.

"Currently, almost 95% of South Africa's electricity is generated from coal-fired power plants, although South Africa receives more than 2500 hours of sunlight, which is twice more than most parts of Europe," Peters said at the park's sod-turning ceremony.

She said South Africa was among 14 high emitters of "carbon dioxide equivalent" in the world and that President Jacob Zuma had committed the country to reducing its emissions by 34% and 42% by 2020 and 2025 respectively.

Eskom has requested electricity tariff increases of 16% a year for the next five years. Three percent of this would cover the cost of energy from independent power producers.

Macdonald said that contrary to popular belief, this was not for the subsidisation of renewable energy projects.

Where Eskom's coal power is currently produced at 97c per kWh, Macdonald said wind power could be produced at 89c per kWh.

"Standard Bank's estimate is that Kusile [Eskom's power station being built in Bronkhorstspruit, Pretoria] will cost R1.38 kWh in 2019 when it is commissioned.

"The entire spectrum of estimated Eskom new coal cost thus falls above the actual cost for new wind power, and the inescapable conclusion is that the more wind power we build, the more money we save," Macdonald said.

The eight wind farms - mainly located in the Eastern Cape - are currently in the early stages of construction.

A further seven wind farms might be commissioned during the department's second bidding process for renewable energy.

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