Offshore wind could help solve electricity crisis in South Africa

January 18, 2023
 | 
2 min read
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How would you feel about being told your power would be cut off for 4-6 hours every day until further notice?

South Africa’s electricity demand is significantly higher than the generation capacity, a situation made worse by severe grid constraints. Therefore, the electricity system operator has to use a tool that most TSOs would do everything to avoid: Large-scale load shedding. 2022 set a new record for load shedding, with power cuts on more than 200 days.

18 GW OF NEW ELECTRICITY GENERATION URGENTLY NEEDED

Offshore wind could be part of the solution to this electricity supply crisis.

South Africa needs 18 GW of new electricity generation capacity by 2030 just to solve the current supply problems. And even more will be needed after 2030, as coal, which accounts for 70% of the current electricity mix, is planned to be phased out.

EXCELLENT OFFSHORE WIND RESOURCES

South Africa has great wind resources with wind speeds around 9 m/s close to significant load centers along the coast. Large-scale offshore wind farms close to coastal load centers could help meet long-term electricity demand.

However, there are significant challenges to address first, including severe grid congestion issues, lack of legal and regulatory framework for offshore wind, as well as how to operate in harsh wave conditions.

AEGIR INSIGHTS SOUTH AFRICA OFFSHORE WIND REPORT RELEASED

Follow Aegir Insights on LinkedIn for more insights into global offshore wind markets.

Aegir Insights recently released our South Africa offshore wind market report to our clients. Reach out to learn more about our market intelligence subscriptions service.

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