South Africa is struggling to shake off its reliance on coal power stations, and needs to decarbonize its economy. Times Live ascribes this situation to a combination of historic coal dependence, and the contribution of coal mines to the economy. Political and economic resistance to change add to a challenge, in which batteries have a key role.
Renewable Energy Resources Key to the Role of Batteries
South Africa’s geographic location ensures an abundant supply of daytime solar energy. There is also high wind velocity along an extensive coastline, although this too falls away at night.
The African nation currently relies on a fleet of aging coal power stations for its base load, plus one two-unit nuclear power plant. It also has several small hydro-power stations, and a fleet of peaking turbines for peak demand.
Expanding South Africa’s hydro power network is no longer a popular option, because water reserves will diminish if global warming continues. Therefore, Times Live and many other commentators believe, South Africa’s electricity future lies in harnessing wind and solar energy.
This Brings Grid-Scale Energy Storage Into Focus
Grid-scale energy storage would be the unavoidable companion to solar and wind, were they to be widely adopted. However, this possibility has until recently been largely ignored, because coal mining and coal generation support a large number of families and jobs.
None the less, there are a number of private, and private-public renewable energy storage projects coming on line. This is at least partly due to the unreliability of South Africa’s aging coal power fleet. These new developments range from home solar, through to 100-megawatt projects for industrial applications.
The intermittent nature of wind and solar energy resources ensures that batteries have a key role in South Africa’s energy transition. Batteries can drive decarbonisation, although this comes at a capital cost that challenges other priorities.
Never the less, there is growing acceptance that batteries will play a key role in South Africa’s energy future. This logic applies throughout the developing world, as governments there strive to supply abundant electricity for all.
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