Concentrated solar power (CSP) innovation analysis in South Africa

Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering
Abstract
South Africa aims to generate 42 per cent of its electricity from renewable energy technology sources by 2030. Concentrating solar power (CSP) is one of the major renewable energy technologies that have been prioritised by South Africa, given the abundant solar resources available in the region. Seven CSP plants have been, or are being, built; three of them are already connected to the national grid. However, the impacts of this technology on South African research, development, and innovation have not been investigated to date. This paper thus analyses the CSP technologies in South Africa in terms of the existing technology adoption models and diffusion strategies, used by government and its agencies, to improve the development and deployment of these technologies. It is found that CSP has been treated generally like other renewable energy technologies through the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), although a tariff plan for CSP plants of the future has been made. No specific technology diffusion or adoption model for CSP was found; so this paper explores how it can be developed.
Suid-Afrika het ten doel om 42 persent van sy elektrisiteit uit hernubare energie tegnologie bronne te genereer teen 2030. Gekonsentreerde sonkrag (CSP) is een van die grootste hernubare tegnologie energieë wat reeds geprioritiseer is deur Suid-Afrika, as gevolg van ’n oorvloedige son hulpbron beskikbaar in die streek. Sewe CSP aanlegte is, of word, gebou en drie van hulle is reeds gekoppel aan die nasionale netwerk. Maar die impak van hierdie tegnologie op Suid-Afrikaanse navorsing, ontwikkeling en innovasie is tot dusvêr nie ondersoek nie. Hierdie artikel voer dus ’n ontleding van die CSP tegnologie in Suid-Afrika uit in terme van die bestaande tegnologie aanneming modelle en verspreiding strategieë, wat gebruik word deur die regering en sy agentskappe, om die ontwikkeling en implementering van hierdie tegnologie te verbeter. Dit is bevind dat CSP, in die algemeen, behandel word soos ander hernubare energie tegnologie deur middel van die Hernubare Energie Onafhanklike Krag Verskaffer Aankoop Program (REIPPPP), hoewel ’n tarief plan vir CSP aanlegte van die toekoms wel gemaak is. Geen spesifieke tegnologie diffusie of aanneming model vir CSP is gevind nie, en hierdie artikel ondersoek hoe dit ontwikkel kan word.
Description
CITATION: Craig, T. O., Brent, A. C. & Dinter, F. 2017. Concentrated solar power (CSP) innovation analysis in South Africa. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 28(2):14-27, doi:10.7166/28-2-1640.
The original publication is available at http://sajie.journals.ac.za
Keywords
Solar power plants -- South Africa, Renewable energy sources -- South Africa
Citation
Craig, T. O., Brent, A. C. & Dinter, F. 2017. Concentrated solar power (CSP) innovation analysis in South Africa. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 28(2):14-27, doi:10.7166/28-2-1640