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Renewable energy will account for just 20°/o of South Africas power mix by the end of this decade, according to an independent research and business intelligence company.
Rystad Energy said in their analysis that this highlights the uphill battle South Africa faces in its pursuit of decarbonisation.
The country had targeted lifting the share of renewable energy in its power generation mix from 11% currently to 41% by 2030.
This is being done by increasing onshore wind and solar capacity, both of which have shown significant growth in recent years.
"However, rising demand and new additions to its ageing coal power infrastructure mean that hitting the renewables target looks increasingly unlikely."
By 2030, power generation in South Africa is expected to increase by more than 40%, soaring from approximately 210 terawatt-hours (TWh) currently to 300 TWh by the decades end.
"Although significant investments have been made in advancing renewable energy capacity and paving the way for a cleaner power mix, the current pipeline of onshore wind projects especially is unlikely to support its ambitious targets," said Rystad Energy,
At present, coal dominates South Africas power mix, accounting for more than 80% of electricity generation.
As well as being polluting, South Africas reliance on ageing coal power plants has led to frequent breakdowns and maintenance problems, triggering widespread bouts of loadshedding across the country. |
