2023-07-04 22:03:03
South Africa is going through an unprecedented energy crisis which is forcing it to rethink its sources of electricity production. Aging coal-fired power stations, which produce more than 80% of electricity, regularly break down and pollute the atmosphere. Faced with the climate emergency and the electricity production crisis, the country is gradually opening up to renewable energies, such as wind turbines. But their development faces several obstacles.
The port city of Port Elizabeth, recently renamed Gqeberha, retains an evocative nickname: the windy city. Several promoters want to take advantage of this wind by developing wind farms. Projects opposed by a group of private nature reserves. ” Some wind turbines are right in front of us and if all the projects were successful, one of the reserves would be almost surrounded, it would be fatal for its activity. “, explains Rob Gradwell who represents the Lalibela reserve.
With only 1,300 wind turbines installed in South Africa, turbines are still not really part of the landscape and yet they are sometimes dismissed. Eventually, will they be accepted? Yes, according to this family from Cape Town, who visits the Addo Elephant National Park, from where you can see a field of wind turbines: “ This is not a problem at all, on the contrary, it can have a positive effect to have more renewable and sustainable energy in the long term. “explains the woman. ” We must be the only country to experience load shedding, scheduled power cuts, so we need wind turbines “, continues the husband. ” We saw a lot of them on the road, it’s pretty! adds their son.
Demand exceeds supply
Their development has slowed down in provinces where the electricity network lacks capacity. Demand exceeds supply, explains Nick Hedley, researcher and columnist on climate and energy issues. “ The latest statistics from the South African energy regulator show that projects awaiting availability on the network represent a power of 20 gigawatts. These are mainly projects led by manufacturing industries that want to produce their own energy and a majority of them rely on wind power ».
The power grid will need to gain capacity if South Africa is to take advantage of its abundant renewable energy resources. ” We have excellent wind resources, especially on the Western Cape and Eastern Cape coasts. We do not yet have offshore wind, but the potential is very significant », ajoute Nick Hedley.
To develop, wind energy will have to overcome technical challenges and be accepted by the population. The promoters will be able to compete during a new call for tenders which should open in June.
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