Evaluating the energy potential of solar PV located on mining properties in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa

Date
2020-07-21
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The lauded Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPPP) has achieved much in stimulating private sector investment in the renewable energy market in South Africa. Yet, 95% of electricity generated is still from a single source, the state-owned utility Eskom. This paper set out to explore the policy sphere governing electricity generation and identifying possible avenues that can contribute to a more vibrant solar energy market in the most solar abundant province of South Africa, the Northern Cape Province. Licensed mines were identified as low hanging fruit due to a large policy overlap and leeway within existing mining policy. A solar audit of these areas was performed, based on accepted multi-criteria decision analysis techniques, and found that a potential 369 TWh to 679 TWh per annum can be generated, exceeding South Africa’s current electricity usage.
Description
CITATION: Van der Merwe, Waldo and Brent, Alan C. 2020. Evaluating the energy potential of solar PV located on mining properties in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. Sustainability, 12(14):5857, doi:10.3390/su12145857.
The original publication is available at: https://www.mdpi.com
Keywords
Renewable energy sources, REIPPPP, Mining companies, Solar energy -- Procurement -- Policies, Industrial procurement, Multi-criteria decision analysis, Electric power production
Citation
Van der Merwe, Waldo and Brent, Alan C. 2020. Evaluating the energy potential of solar PV located on mining properties in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. Sustainability, 12(14):5857, doi:10.3390/su12145857