Cape Town - A national mind-shift towards sustainable energy solutions may have played a significant role in Eskom managing to provide an uninterrupted power supply for more than three weeks, according to Cala van der Westhuizen, spokesperson for Energy Partners.
He pointed out that South Africa invested approximately R73bn in sustainable energy solutions in 2014.
"With energy technologies becoming more affordable and accessible, and taking into account that 1.3 billion people globally still do not have access to electricity, there is great potential for growth in the sustainable energy sphere. Between 2013 and 2014 the use of sustainable energy in developing countries increased by over 35%.,” said Van der Westhuizen.
He added that South Africa has ideal weather conditions for the implementation of green energy. According to the International Energy Agency, sustainable energy formed 18% of the generation capacity mix globally in 2007, 21% in 2012 and 22% in 2013. It is anticipated that an estimated 25% of the world’s energy requirements will be fulfilled through sustainable sources by 2018.
“There are some experts who believe that this rapid growth pattern in renewable technologies in SA, will result in 100% sustainable energy generation by 2025, though a more realistic expectation is approximately 30%. Besides the most obvious environmental benefits like the significant decrease in pollution, the implementation and privatisation of sustainable energy will also decrease the monetary cost of energy for the end-consumer,” said Van der Westhuizen.
"The increased accessibility to this basic resource in the developing world will lessen the strain on the parastatal electricity provider, decrease the cost for the end-consumer and stimulate the economy through job creation. Greater investment in the development of sustainable energy solutions is therefore the ideal solution for the national energy crises.”