Our commitment, through the Eskom renewable energy strategy, is to increase the share of renewable energy in Eskom’s energy mix. Our aspiration is to include 1 600MW of renewable energy in the mix by 2025.

Pending the approvals and licensing processes, a decision has been taken to build a 100MW wind facility in the near future. The choice of location and technology to be used is based on information obtained from the pilot wind project run at Klipheuwel in the Western Cape from 2003 to 2006.

During that time, Klipheuwel pilot wind farm generated more than 12GWh of electricity, contributing to an avoidance of 11 000 tons of carbon dioxide. The three wind turbines operated at an average availability of 90%. The research phase of the project has been completed and this pilot wind farm is now commercially operated for its anticipated 20 year lifespan from 2006.

We are investigating the feasibility of a 100MW concentrating solar power plant in the Northern Cape . This technology enables the storage of renewable energy for use during the evening peak demand. The pre-feasibility study has been completed and a prototype heliostat, one of the key plant components, has been installed at our research and development facility. The EIA nears completion with all detailed studies and public participation completed. Discussions with technology partners have been initiated and a draft project plan has been completed.

We found that the best production occurs during the windy summer months. The facility operates between 10% (winter) and up to 35% (summer) depending on wind availability. Most of the start-up problems were resolved and wind turbine availability has increased on average to around 90%, which is comparable to international levels. To date more than 12GWh of wind-powered electricity has been generated by the facility, injected at Klipheuwel substation.

The pilot project provided Eskom with valuable information to assist in long-term decision making regarding renewable energy. The decision to build a 100MW wind facility was informed by this successful pilot demonstration.

The pre-feasibility study presented the following conclusions:

Eskom has partnered with the World Wildlife Fund– South Africa to develop a renewable energy research fund for renewable energy projects outside of Eskom. Eskom has committed R3 million over three years.

Eskom is participating in a project with the Department of Minerals and Energy to consider the various market mechanisms in operation internationally, including tradable green certificates, feed-in tariffs and a pilot green power market.

Eskom continues to invest considerable effort into research and development of renewable energy sources.

Eskom’s research programme continues to focus on developing energy solutions for rural communities. We are continuing to research biomass potential as feedstock for generation and rural energy solutions. Biomass power is energy contained in products such as sugar cane waste, wood waste and residues from short-rotation crops, such as straw.

At a demonstration project in the Melani community in the Eastern Cape, we are, together with the University of Fort Hare, installing a biomass gasifier unit which uses wood waste from a nearby sawmill as a fuel source to produce a virtually “tar free” gas, which is then used to power a generator.