Former Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer emphasized that South Africa’s electricity supply challenges cannot be solved by renewable energy alone. He suggests a “hybrid solution” that incorporates multiple sources of electricity generation.
- As Eskom’s aging coal-fired power stations reach the end of their operational lives, they cannot be fully replaced by renewables, he told BizNews. The average age of Eskom’s coal fleet, excluding Medupi and Kusile, is 44 years, and many plants are expected to be decommissioned by the end of the decade.
- An estimated 11,000 MW of generation capacity will need to be decommissioned by 2030, leading to a decrease in overall generation capacity that cannot be effectively compensated by renewables alone.
- Oberholzer highlights the intermittency of renewable energy sources, stating that the sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow when electricity is needed. He suggests a hybrid solution involving more stable energy sources like coal, gas, nuclear, or hydro, as well as investments in storage technology.
- Brian Day, Chairman of the South African Independent Power Producers Association, reveals that to replace the lost capacity from decommissioning coal plants, 50,000 MW of renewable capacity will need to be built. Renewable energy is the only solution that can provide such a large capacity within a decade.
- Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind currently operate at a capacity factor of 35% to 45% due to their intermittent nature.
- To meet the country’s electricity needs, South Africa will require substantial investment in grid upgrades, storage capacity for renewables, and backup power in the