While Eskom’s failure to ensure the successful completion of its Kusile and Medupi projects have heightened expectations of doom and gloom, the success of the private sector-dominated wind energy projects is uplifting.
A recent report released by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) says South Africa grew its wind energy generating capacity by 560MW in 2014.
Further, the report reveals that growth of wind energy is not unique. According to the GWEC, globally, the wind industry reached a milestone of new installations of about 51 477MW of generating capacity. In comparison with the global benchmark, South Africa’s rate of growth is modest.
In a press statement, GWEC Secretary General, Steve Sawyer, called wind power as “the most competitive way of adding new power generation capacity to the grid in a rapidly increasing number of markets around the world, which is even when competing against heavily subsidised incumbents”.
He added: “Wind [energy] is a rapidly maturing technology, with proven reliability and competitiveness. Not only the low prices but also the cost-stability of wind power makes it a very attractive option for utilities, independent power producers and companies who are looking for a hedge against the wildly fluctuating prices of fossil fuels.”
