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LIGHT + CURRENT
Answers to SA’s COP21 challenges
Andreas Pistauer, Siemens
As a signatory to the Paris Agreement
drawn up at COP21, South Africa requires
a diligent transition of energy systems.
There is not just one solution for achiev-
ing a sustainable, economical and reliable
energy system.The respective political and
economic conditions in each specific region
need to be analysed in order to find themost
suitable answer.
South Africa, the dominant player in Af-
rican coal, is seeking to diversify its power
mix. Renewables, hydropower, gas and
nuclear operators are all seeking to play a
role in bringing the share of coal in power
output down from over 90% today to less
than 33% by 2040.
The Independent Power Producer Pro-
gramme (IPP) has proven to be highly suc-
cessful in South Africa, and has attracted
considerable foreign investment. This
places the country in a privileged situation
from which to choose from a multitude of
energy mixes.
As a result, there is an increase in the
number of photovoltaic (PV) and concen-
trated solar power (CSP) solar projects, as
well as wind farms.Another technology with
considerable potential for low emissions
while efficiently meeting demand outputs
is gas-to-power.
Mozambique is thought to have one of
the largest reserves of natural gas, and
South Africa is well set to take advantage
of utilising this as part of the Department
of Energy’s 3 125 MW gas-to-power pro-
gramme, plus a 600 MW additional gas
determination.
When compared to a coal-fired Steam
Power Plant (SPP), a gas-fired Combined
Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) offers far greater
environmental and investment advantages.
Using a 600 MW plant as an example, CPPP
runs at >60% efficiency, while a new SSP
runs at around 43% efficiency.
The CCPP also ensures a 58% reduction
in CO2 emissions.This equates to the annual
elimination of approximately 15,5-million
tonnes of CO2 for South Africa, when taking
into account a combination of the 3 125 MW
and 600 MW programmes.
A 600 MW CCPP can produce its first
power within 20 months and is fully com-
pleted after 32 months, as opposed to 6
months for the SSP. Finally, a CCPP con-
sumes almost 50% less land (111 000 m2
versus 220 000 m2), thereby ensuring that it
effectively produces the same power using
half the space.
Gas-to-power is certainly a cost and
energy-efficient solution to South Africa’s
long-term sustainability targets that align
with COP21 objectives. It is, however, not
the only solution, and should form part of
an integral energy mix.
Enquiries: Keshin Govender.
Tel. +27 (0) 11 652 2000 or email
Africa rising needs good private investors and public opinion
The African Renaissance will remain a pipedream unless African
countries are prepared and willing to trade with one another and
to rely on one another’s companies and resources for infrastructure
development, said the Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Malusi Gigaba,
in his opening address at a conference hosted by the University of
Johannesburg (UJ) on Monday 11 July 2016.
The Minister was speaking at the 5 th International Conference on
Infrastructure Development inAfrica, hosted by UJ in collaboration
with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
(KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana; and Bells University ofTechnology, Ogun,
Nigeria.The conference explored sustainable practices in develop-
ment and procurement for large infrastructure projects.
“Four critical issues need to be looked at to unlock infrastructure
development in Africa,” said Minister Gigaba.
“Firstly, countries need long-term vision and planning to provide
investors with project pipelines so that they can plan their invest-
ments. Secondly, coordination both within and between countries is
needed to maximise impact and resolve red tape and other impedi-
ments. In addition, institutional infrastructure needs to be set up to
drive such development programmes and ensure coordination and
alignment. Finally, funding is needed to explore various financing
models, including pension funds and public-public partnerships, to
unlock the balance sheets of investors and get infrastructure projects
off the ground in Africa.”
Echoing the Minister’s sentiments, Prof DidibhukuThwala
said Africa’s impressive economic performance over the
past decade has rekindled hopes for the continent’s future
as an important player in the global economic landscape.
Enquiries: Email
From Left to Right: Prof Saurabh Sinha,
Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering
and the Built Environment, UJ, Prof Tshilidzi
Marwala (UJ Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research,
Postgraduate Studies and the Library); Mr
Malusi Gigaba (Minister of Home Affairs),
Prof Didi (Wellington) Thwala (UJ Professor of
Construction Project Management; Chairperson
of the Johannesburg Development Agency; and
member of the Gautrain Board.)
Andreas Pistauer, Siemens
Electricity+Control August ‘16 50