AFRICA EVENT REPORT POD 3 : UTILITY-SCALE RENEWABLES AND STORAGE FOR SOUTH AFRICAN MINES
This inhibits the wheeling of electricity or off-site power generation options for mines. From this perspective, on-site generation is more attractive, but comes with a host of different financial and safety considerations. EandM: What are some of the key market developments in South Africa that are expected to facilitate further uptake of renewables for mines?
Reinet Van Zyl, Technology & Improvement Manager, Tronox
and become more affordable. Additionally, we will continue to scan the environment for cost effective solutions to reduce our GHG emissions and find ways of utilizing waste more effectively, thereby reducing our carbon footprint altogether and living up to our company values of being adaptable, decisive and effective.
EandM: What do you see as the main barriers to the further integration of renewables for mines in Africa? RVZ: In the short term, the grid capacity infrastructure to accommodate distributed generation will be the biggest barrier for further renewables in the mining environment. ~ 37 ~
RVZ: The change in legislation in August 2021 is a positive change that will drive the uptake of renewable energy going forward. It allows for large scale (less than 100 MW) renewable generation facilities to utilise a curtailed registration process rather than the previous, lengthy licensing process. It also allows for multiple offtakers from a facility as well as the on-selling of energy. This has the potential to de-risk to a large extent possible renewable generation projects for mining companies, who would now be able to share the burden and benefits associated with the secured, sustainable supply of electricity. A further driver is the affordability of renewable energy, which is presently more economical than the coal-based energy currently available.
