By Oyisa George
Cape Town has signed an R8-billion electricity deal as the City moves to secure more of its power supply outside of Eskom.
The agreement forms part of efforts to diversify electricity sources and reduce reliance on the national power utility, amid rising costs and ongoing pressure on the country’s electricity system.
Speaking to VOC News, energy analyst Zakhele Madela questioned whether renewable energy projects would deliver meaningful economic benefits for local communities, particularly vulnerable households.
Madela says claims that renewable energy will provide cheaper and more predictable electricity need to be examined more closely.
“The problem with this statement, technically, scientifically, from an engineering and economic perspective, is that it is flawed.”
He argues that solar power is not available during peak evening demand, meaning other sources are still needed when the sun goes down.
“The so-called cheap [electricity] is only from nine o’clock to about four o’clock. But once the sun is gone in the afternoon, all the way up to nine o’clock the following day, renewable energy makes the whole power consumption very expensive because something else must pick it up.”
Madela also raised concerns about job creation and the involvement of local workers in the renewable energy sector.
He says residents should question who ultimately benefits from the City’s move away from Eskom.
“The people of Cape Town must ask themselves this: How much of Cape Town’s economy is driven by Eskom and the secondary industries that are created because of Eskom supplying the power?”
Madela says the country needs an evidence-based debate about its future energy mix, including the potential role of nuclear power.
Photo: Pixabay
