Mott MacDonald NTB Jan Feb 2011
 

EE-News
News and announcements from EE Publishers  Issue 146, July 2011
EE-News masthead

  

Correction

In the announcement of this event sent on Tuesday 27 July 2011, there was a typographical error which has since been corrected below as shown in the RED text. EE Publishers apologises for the inconvenience.

  

Open panel discussion and debate:
Renewable energy in South Africa - going backwards or forwards?

You are cordially invited to attend an open panel discussion and debate hosted by

 

 

in association with

 

 

entitled:
 

Renewable energy in South Africa -

going backwards or forwards?
 
DATE: Tuesday 23 August 2011
TIME: 15h30 for 16h00
VENUE: Military History Museum Auditorium, Johannesburg.
COCKTAIL PARTY: A cocktail party will be served after the event.
COST: R50 per person, payable at the door, to help cover catering costs.
 

Click here to register online and reserve your seat(s) 

 

The names of the chairperson and eminent expert presenters will be announced shortly. After the formal presentations, the chairperson will field open discussion from the floor and between presenters.

 

BACKGROUND
 
South Africa is significantly behind in the implementation of renewable energy despite an over-dependence on coal for electricity generation, and a well-known generation capacity shortfall.
 
In May 2004, a government white paper on renewable energy was published setting the national policy objectives for renewable energy in South Africa.
 
A target of 10 000 GWh of renewable energy per annum by 2013 was set by the Department of Energy (DoE), which would entail the commissioning of some 4000 MW of installed wind, concentrating solar (CSP) and/or solar photo-voltaic (PV) plant capacity. Eskom investigated various wind and CSP projects, but never proceeded due to shortcomings in the policy, legal and regulatory framework. It would appear now that there is no chance that this target will even remotely be met.

  

Then in April 2011, the national integrated resource plan for energy (IRP 2010 - 2030) set a further ambitious target of 21,5 GW of new installed renewable energy generation capacity by 2030, comprising 9200 MW of wind capacity, 8400 MW of solar PV capacity, 1200 MW of solar CSP capacity and 2600 MW imported hydro capacity by 2030.

  

For the last several years, the DoE and NERSA have been working on the details and promulgation of a renewable energy feed-in tariff (REFIT) framework to kick-start the development and implementation of renewable energy projects and a sustainable renewable energy sector in South Africa to meet these targets. The REFIT framework was finally completed in 2010.
 
But to the dismay of those that had responded to calls for expressions of interest from the DoE, in March 2011, just as the formal requests for proposals in terms of the REFIT tariffs were to go out, NERSA announced that the REFIT tariffs were to be reviewed with a view to being reduced.
 
And then in June 2011, to the amazement of the renewable energy sector, out of the blue the National Treasury advised the industry that it now considered the REFIT framework, which effectively guarantees prices for renewable energy delivered into the electricity grid by licensed generators, to be illegal and anti-competitive, and suggested an alternative competitive project tender (bidding) process.
 
Within the industry, there is much disagreement on whether the REFIT process is indeed illegal, whether a competitive bidding process is the right way to kick-start a sustainable renewable energy sector in South Africa, and why we have such damaging lack of vision and policy flip-flops in the energy and power sector of South Africa, which serve to damage the economy, and delay and frustrate progress.
 
This open panel discussion and debate will bring together diverse expert views to discuss what government and the industry is doing right and wrong, and how the implementation of renewable energy in South Africa should proceed.
 
Questions the panel discussion and debate will cover include:  

  • Are the 2013 and 2030 renewable energy targets realistic or just over-optimistic pipe-dreams?
  • What is still causing the delays in the development and implementation of renewable energy projects in South Africa?
  • What needs to be done by government, DoE and NERSA to achieve the renewable energy targets?
  • As they stand now, are the REFIT tariffs too high and therefore not in the public interest?
  • Is the REFIT framework illegal and unconstitutional, and could projects under the REFIT framework be challenged legally?
  • If the REFIT framework is illegal, why has this only been identified now, long after the promulgation of the REFIT framework?
  • If the current REFIT framework is illegal, what changes could be made to make it legal?
  • Why is there an apparent lack of coordination between the government, DoE and NERSA on renewable energy policy, legal and regulatory issues?
  • Will these policy flip-flops affect and/or undermine the 2013 and 2030 renewable energy targets and implementation timetables?
  • How does this affect investor and IPP confidence, and South Africa's reputation?
  • Would it not be better for government to put out broad economic signals rather than engage in detailed project-by-project bidding, adjudication and implementation?
  • Does the DoE have the experience, technical and commercial resources, know-how and institutional capacity to embark on a massive programme of large scale project management, involving tendering, adjudication and implementation of renewable energy projects estimated at R300-billion?
  • Which is better to kick-start a sustainable local renewable energy sector and associated jobs: a competitive tender process, or guaranteed renewable energy feed-in tariffs?
  • Will a competitive bidding process serve to cause further delays and stifle the entry of new and smaller players, thus further entrenching the dominance of Eskom and coal?
  • Will Eskom be required to tender on a competitive basis for its renewable energy projects, and are the playing fields level?
  • Will a competitive tender bidding process provide the process certainty necessary to foster sustainable local supply industries and to provide for multiple procurement rounds up to 2030?

REGISTRATION
 

Click here to register online and reserve your seat(s) 
 
Seating is limited to 150 persons and booking is essential. Please register early to book your seat(s) and avoid disappointment.
 
DIRECTIONS AND MAP
 
The Auditorium is at the Military History Museum (War Museum), at the top (east) end of the Johannesburg Zoo in Saxonwold, corner of Eastwold, Erlswold and Upper Park Drive, between Oxford Road and Jan Smuts Avenue. The Auditorium can be conveniently accessed from the M1 highway between Johannesburg and Pretoria. There is ample secure parking.

 

Please click here for a map   

 

 
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Open panel discussion and debate: Renewable energy in South Africa - going backwards or forwards?
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