Question NW1475 to the Minister of Energy

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27 May 2016 - NW1475

Profile picture: Mackay, Mr G

Mackay, Mr G to ask the Minister of Energy

(1)(a) How many renewable energy projects are currently implemented in the Northern Cape and (b) what are the further relevant details in each case with regard to (i) the nature of the project, (ii) the municipality affected, (iii) the time frame(s) and (iv) how many job opportunities is each project expected to create; (2) Whether any renewable energy projects are being planned for future implementation in the Northern Cape; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?

Reply:

1. (a) 51 projects of the 102 projects awarded in the Large (Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme) and Smalls ( Small Projects IPP Procurement Programme ) are in the Northern Cape.

(b) (i) The Majority of projects located in the Northern Cape are Solar PV which account for 31 of 51 projects ,followed by 12 Onshore Wind, 7 CSP and 1 Small Hydro. The Province has the best solar radiation levels in the country and hence the high number of Solar PV and CSP in the Province.

(ii) The 51 projects in the Northern Cape are spread across 17 municipalities indicated in the table below:

Municipality

No. of projects

Sol Plaatjie

 

2

Gamagara

 

3

Joe Morolong

 

2

Khâi-Ma

 

5

Hantam

 

3

Karoo-Hoogland

 

3

Nama Khoi

1

Siyancuma

 

3

Siyathemba

 

5

Emthanjeni

 

8

Renosterberg

 

1

Umsobomvu

 

1

Ubuntu

 

2

Kai!Garib

 

2

!Kheis

 

1

Khara Hais

 

6

Tsantsabane

 

3

(iii) 20 out of the 51 projects are already operating and exporting energy into the National Grid with the remaining projects expected to be connected to the grid by December 2018.

(iv) The 51 projects located in the Northern Cape are expected to yield 66 000 job-years during the construction (23 000) and operation phases (43 000). (A job-year is calculated on the basis of total Person Months for the Construction Measurement Period and the Operating Measurement Period).

2) The Northern Cape has great renewable energy resources and has garnered the most interest by bidders. The one impediment to the development of the Northern Cape involves the grid as it is severely constrained. The Department is working with Eskom to identify solutions to unlock the grid constraints which will allow for further development of projects in the Northern Cape.

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