Is Africa Prepared for the Shift? Navigating Renewable Energy in a Coal-Dependent Economy

For a long time many African countries have relied on fossil fuels to generate electricity. While fossil fuels were reliable then, its reliability has become significantly low now.

The growing need to transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy is not mere rhetoric; it is grounded in our current environmental reality. As the world rapidly grows and shifts, this transition is crucial to reducing the environmental impact associated with fossil fuels. Transitioning from fossil fuels, the most significant contributors to global warming is vital to ensuring sustainable living on Earth.

As a result, various initiatives have emerged from global collaborations to tackle climate change, such as the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) signed by countries like South Africa, France, the UK, and many others. These partnerships can help change narratives and drive transformative climate action, but there is still a long way to go.

Reducing Our Coal Dependency

South Africa has been heavily reliant on fossil fuels to generate electricity. The country’s state-owned utility, Eskom, has had the duty of providing electricity to all nine provinces. However, that in itself takes a huge toll. More demand means more coal being used, leading to a massive increase in greenhouse gas emissions. 

The vast amount of carbon dioxide emitted through coal combustion is the leading contributor to the accelerating global temperature, as it is greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. This rise in temperature leads to extreme weather changes, such as the recent KwaZulu-Natal floods that left thousands displaced and injured.

Additionally, this causes a huge strain on the power stations supplying electricity across South Africa. Currently, South Africa is 90% dependent on Eskom as its main electricity provider, with 80% of the energy resource being coal. The heavy dependence on coal as a power source is South Africa’s biggest challenge in playing its part in the efforts for climate change.

To date, South Africa has 15 coal-powered stations across the country, which are decades old and are becoming increasingly expensive to maintain. According to Daily Investor, South African municipalities owe Eskom a total of over R90 billion, mainly due to lack of payments. This amount reflects poor management, corruption, and growing infrastructure issues within Eskom.

The Impact of Load Shedding and Air Pollution

Due to the growing demand for electricity across the country, South Africa has had to resort to measures such as load shedding to alleviate the electricity demand. Load shedding involves scheduled power cuts to prevent grid overload, disrupting daily life and businesses. Businesses such as restaurants shut down, due to load shedding as their food becomes spoiled without refrigeration, further highlighting the instability of coal-produced energy. However, this is not sustainable.

Switching from coal will not only promote sustainable living for all but also help reduce the amount of air pollution released as a result of carbon emissions from power stations. Air pollution is a serious concern, especially for communities located close to power stations.

In a recent study conducted by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) led by Caradee Wright, head of the Climate Change and Health Research Programme, air pollution in communities living close to power stations increases the annual number of deaths in the country by 6%.

This study is the latest addition to studying the connection between Eskom’s air pollution and the increasing health issues for people located near those power stations. In an interview with Bloomberg, MyBroadband, “cardiovascular diseases are a major concern” in municipalities where the plants run by state utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., are sited the SAMRC said in a statement. 

“Children under five are particularly vulnerable as there is a direct increase in pneumonia cases.” Shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy is a much-needed change for South Africa. In fact, it’s urgent as the demand for electricity increases by the day.

Growing Call for Renewable Energy Investment

South Africa should shift its investment projects more towards the transition to renewable energy. Currently, wind and solar power are the most popular forms of renewable energy generation. The Western Cape, renowned for its windy weather, is the best location for wind farms, while solar power is best generated in the Northern Cape due to its hot and dry weather.

Combined, wind and solar power account for over 100 power utilities in South Africa. However, the energy generated supplies only about 20% of the country’s electricity, which pales in comparison to Eskom’s power stations. Existing initiatives such as the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), a public-private partnership, aims to increase the country’s electricity through renewable energy sources via private investments. 

Additionally, according to South Africa’s Energy Action Plan released in March 2024, an estimated 10,600 MW of additional generation capacity is expected to be added from various sources in 2024 and 2025. This includes additional units returning to service, private sector projects connecting to the grid, and projects from previous bid windows reaching completion.

Economic and Social Benefits of Renewable Energy

Utilizing the country’s financial resources and funds allocated by the global community dedicated to driving sustainable climate change, South Africa has the capability to meet all its energy targets. The South African government needs to come to terms with the fact that investing in Eskom as a power supplier is doing more harm than good. 

Each year, billions of Rands are allocated to the energy industry, but sadly, there’s little to show for it other than increasing debt and slow progress. Issues of cable theft cost the industry millions just to fix, which a huge setback is for Eskom. If those funds were invested in renewable energy, it could have produced far more positive results.

South Africa should rather double its efforts and fast-track its energy development plans to create more solar and wind power utility plants across the country. This rapid transition to renewable energy does not only reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions but also helps maximize the country’s contribution to combating climate change.

For local communities exposed to Eskom’s air pollution from power plants, replacing them with solar power will be a much-needed change to the environment and their way of living. Additionally, switching to renewable energy will not just help the environment but also benefit those living within it.

The advancement of renewable energy production will create new career paths and skills for the country. This can lead to an increase in job creation as more professionals will be required to operate and manage the solar panels and wind turbines. Careers in the energy industry could see a boost in talent, playing a pivotal role in generating more innovative ideas over time.

Conclusion

In order to promote sustainable living for all, South Africa needs an urgent shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Not only are fossil fuels harmful to the environment, but they are also unreliable and too expensive to maintain, as seen over the past few decades.

Focusing fully on renewable energy like wind, solar, and hydro energy will be the best decision for South Africa, as it is not only affordable but also reliable, clean, and has the potential for exponential growth for the country’s economy in terms of job creation.

Prioritizing the country’s health and economic advancement should be at the forefront of all government development plans. This starts with taking decisive action now, rather than years later when the earth has reached a point of no return.

Written By: Nicole Bongo

Edited By: Thakane Hoeane