Ramokgopa vows to ‘embody’ renewable energy

He delivered the keynote address at the ministerial renewable energy seminar in Midrand on Monday. 

The minister detailed a comprehensive review of the independent power producers’ procurement process, vowing that the sector would be more aggressive in onboarding renewables.

"10,000 megawatts or so from the multiple speed windows that remain unallocated. I have made it public that as part of our quest to ensure that we see the exponential rise of renewables as part of the energy mix, we are going to be a bit more aggressive in onboarding renewables.  

"But I think that statement is hollow if you are not able to address the attendant challenges, the inherent weaknesses in the system. So we must build confidence in the system going into the future,  first by illustrating our ability to resolve the challenges that are afflicted, the previous speed windows."

He says energy security remains an issue in South Africa amid high emission levels from coal-fired power stations and the impact of climate change.

"When we go out and say we are aggressive, we want to achieve the kind of increases of renewables as part of the mix. Indeed, we are able to illustrate that the program is credible because we are able to get to financial growth and we are able to give us those electrons. They'll benefit everyone.

"And then there's an issue of energy security. So, I'm just saying it's part of the totality of that mix. And then there's also the third leg of the trilemma, the issue of sustainability. So, I made a point about the rich body of literature, science that talks to emissions levels, climate change.

“It's important that we are able to protect the interest of posterity, the harmful effects of these emissions to the immediate environment, the people in the geographies where you find in these power stations. So, it's important that we are able to green the South African economy.”

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