The City of Tshwane and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) are exploring ways to lower electricity prices, through the use of a range of renewable energy sources.
These include solar, wind, battery storage, hydro, landfill gas and biomass energies.
Sipho Mdhluli, an energy modelling expert at the CSIR’s Energy Research Centre, said the study also included embedded generation and find ways of boosting power security and creating export revenues from excess power to the grid.
Embedded generation is electricity produced close to where it is used.
Dr Nasiphi Moya, Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane, said “the City of Tshwane is charting a new energy future, one that is cleaner, more affordable and resilient. Our partnership with the CSIR brings science to the center of our energy planning, ensuring that every citizen and business benefits from smarter, sustainable power solutions.”
Seeing the price of electricity has increased by more than 190% since 2014, CSIR researchers are looking to work with more municipalities, to adopt science-based energy planning and modelling.
In addition to the high cost of electricity, emissions from coal-fired power plants are already causing devastation.
“Carbon emissions are harmful to the environment, and in places like Mpumalanga, several deaths have been reported that could be linked to toxic air pollutants from these plants, according to Human Rights Watch” said Mdhluli.
He further explained that the solution lies in harnessing cleaner energy sources, without compromising the security and reliability of the electric power system .
“Cities must explore competitive, clean sources such as solar photovoltaics, wind, biomass, landfill gas, as well as lithium battery storage. Time and time again, solar PV and wind generation resources are proving to be cheaper and can supplement conventional power plants in the studies we’ve done, and according to South Africa’s Integrated Resource Plan.”
The next step for the City, is to procure energy from independent power producers (IPPs) and to upgrade local grid infrastructure to accommodate additional supply .
Picture: Supplied