Renewable energy a positive injection for NC – MEC

WITH more than 60% of renewable energy projects located in the Northern Cape, the Province is fast positioning itself as the renewable energy hub of South Africa.

These were the remarks made by the MEC of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Abraham Vosloo, during the Energy X Conference and Exhibition which took place at the Protea Hotel in Kimberley on March 29 and 30.

The two-day conference saw experts in the renewable energy and business sectors including financial services, discuss the importance of renewable energy as well as how it can not only solve the current energy crisis in the country, but also be a livelihood to communities in the Province.

Vosloo indicated that renewable energy can not only resolve the energy crisis but also some of the social challenges faced by the country.

“The Northern Cape has a big land mass with wide open spaces. The high temperatures also makes us a conducive area in the manufacturing sector. It seems we may now be in a new Age, with high economic inequality and low social mobility.

“The growing concerns about energy supply can be heard across the political spectrum and not just about the issues of the day, but about the fundamental purpose of this industry. There are currently 46 renewable energy projects in the Northern Cape, of which 33 are solar energy power plants. Twenty-seven of the projects are Photovoltaic (PV) (1,420MW) and six Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) of (500MW) projects.

“In addition to the solar projects, there are 12 wind projects of 1,458MW and one small scale hydro project in the Province. In 2022, the 46 projects in the Northern Cape generated 8,672 GWh, of which the solar projects generated 4,626 GWh. These projects can serve to the high unemployment rate we have in the Province.

“The resources we have in this Province has made it possible for international companies to come here. The people and the youth of the Province need to identify areas where they can play a vital role in the many opportunities being presented.

“The answer to the energy crisis and new inventions to be made in the sector might be here in the Northern Cape,” said Vosloo.

Vosloo added that billions of rands had been invested into these projects.

“An amount of R600 billion had been invested in the Sasol Green Hydrogen project, R17 billion for the Boegebaai se Baai Port, R32 billion for the Boegoebaai Rail, a further R1.2 billion in the Kathu Industrial Park and R250 million in the Upington Industrial Pak,” he said.

He said the green hydrogen projects which will soon be unrolled in various districts in the Province, will also be a tremendous economic injection for the Province with various opportunities for small businesses.

“The Western SADC Green Hydrogen Corridor focuses on consolidating hydrogen production facilities, renewable energy, infrastructure, logistics, human capital, manufacturing for inputs, value addition of mineral resources and PTX (Jet fuel) fuels.

“With this come numerous opportunities for Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) related to green hydrogen and renewable energy production during the construction and operational phases.

“The opportunities include amongst others piping, electrical and instrumentation material, civils and earthworks construction, heavy lift, scaffolding, steel work, fencing, fire control, clean up and waste management, security services and catering,” he said.

Vosloo added that his department is in the process of equipping SMMEs in the Province with the necessary skills and knowledge to ensure they benefit from the projects.

“In his July 2022 address to the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa mentioned that the investment in rooftop solar PV installation by businesses and households was one of the steps in resolving the energy challenge in South Africa.

“Four years before the president’s speech, the Northern Cape provincial government had already identified the ‘Investment in rooftop solar PV installation’ as one of the 18 conference resolutions.

“In order to implement the rooftop solar programme, the department of economic development and tourism has developed a renewable energy strategy with the emphasis on rooftop solar PV installation. The strategy aims to design mechanisms to involve SMMEs in the renewable energy sector.

“The department has entered into an implementation agreement with the Northern Cape SMME trust to implement the programme on behalf of the SMMEs. So far, 20 SMMEs have acquired the PV Green Card to participate in the renewable energy sector. These SMMEs will be admitted to the Northern Cape Solar Business Incubator (NOCSBI).

“The objective is not only to help SMMEs to identify and create sustainable business opportunities with consumers, but also to ensure that SMMEs adhere to the administrative processes when running their businesses,” Vosloo concluded.