CSP opportunities opening up across Southern Africa
South Africa is consolidating its Integrated Resource Plan that aims for 17.8 GW of energy from renewables by 2030. Now, other emerging markets in Africa are also seeking to expand their renewable energy mix.
Concentrated solar power analysts have highlighted that Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe share common energy factors with South Africa. These countries are developing and expanding their renewable energy programs to meet their growing demand for electricity. The vast land availability and the excellent DNI with over 2200 kWh/m2/a, make them excellent markets to develop new business opportunities.
Reiner Jagau, Chief Officer at NamPower, Nambia’s national power utility, in conversations with CSP Today said that “Namibia has 400 MW to develop renewable energy”. The government is considering different energy sources that could match the country’s power demand. Although costs in CSP are still higher than PV or wind, its possibility to hybridize with biomass, to store energy and dispatch power during peak times and stabilise the grid, provides CSP a slight advantage over other renewables.
CSP Today has announce this week that NamPower and the Department of Energy from South Africa and Botswana will participate at CSP Today South Africa 2014 (8-9 April, Cape Town) to discuss how CSP can secure a foothold in these markets.
Brandon Páramo, Research & Project Manager at CSP Today, mentioned that “CSP Today South Africa 2014 gives attendees the chance to meet with official policy makers from multiple South African countries that too have the potential to develop CSP. DNI in some areas is much higher than Spain making it very attractive to deploy concentrated solar power.”
For more information about CSP Today South Africa 2014 visit the website: http://goo.gl/07GLXE
