Denmark injects R60m into SA renewable energy projects
Thématique :
sud afrique
South Africa’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, Buyelwa Sonjica, on Friday announced that the Royal Danish government has given R60-million to the metropolitan areas of South African local government for renewable energy projects.
Speaking at a Denmark and South Africa wind energy seminar in Pretoria, she noted that the money would not only be used for wind energy, in which Denmark has extensive expertise, but also other renewable energy projects such as methane gas capture from land fills.
The Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Per Stig Moller, and Sonjica signed a memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation between Denmark and South Africa.
About 27% of Denmark’s energy supply is from renewable energy sources, and most of this is from wind power. The country has an installed capacity of 3 200 MW of wind power, and about 200 companies, which employ some 22 000 people, propel the industry in Denmark.
Moller said that the country has generated some R70-billion in revenues from exporting green technologies.
Sonjica stated that the South African government’s ideal outcome in developing renewable energy in the country, was that the support of the industry would promote skills exchange, which would lead to local production capabilities. “Local production means opening up, not only to local players, but also to allow international players to come in as independent power producers,” Sonjica said.
She acknowledged that South Africa has struggled to attract foreign power producers because of the country’s low electricity tariffs in the past.
The agreement aimed at providing wind energy solutions as one element of rectifying South Africa's energy crisis and boosting economic links between the two countries.
The agreement also contained cooperation on issues such as wind mapping and capacity building.
South Africa had a target of producing 10 000 GWh of electricity from renewable resources by 2013. This was felt by some to be a low ambition, as South Africa’s abundance of natural resources was felt to have more to offer.
Government, business, research institutions, the metros, developers, ordinary citizens, job seekers and the environment itself could emerge victorious when a whole new sector was opened in South Africa, the Danish Embassy emphasised.
Speaking at a Denmark and South Africa wind energy seminar in Pretoria, she noted that the money would not only be used for wind energy, in which Denmark has extensive expertise, but also other renewable energy projects such as methane gas capture from land fills.
The Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Per Stig Moller, and Sonjica signed a memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation between Denmark and South Africa.
About 27% of Denmark’s energy supply is from renewable energy sources, and most of this is from wind power. The country has an installed capacity of 3 200 MW of wind power, and about 200 companies, which employ some 22 000 people, propel the industry in Denmark.
Moller said that the country has generated some R70-billion in revenues from exporting green technologies.
Sonjica stated that the South African government’s ideal outcome in developing renewable energy in the country, was that the support of the industry would promote skills exchange, which would lead to local production capabilities. “Local production means opening up, not only to local players, but also to allow international players to come in as independent power producers,” Sonjica said.
She acknowledged that South Africa has struggled to attract foreign power producers because of the country’s low electricity tariffs in the past.
The agreement aimed at providing wind energy solutions as one element of rectifying South Africa's energy crisis and boosting economic links between the two countries.
The agreement also contained cooperation on issues such as wind mapping and capacity building.
South Africa had a target of producing 10 000 GWh of electricity from renewable resources by 2013. This was felt by some to be a low ambition, as South Africa’s abundance of natural resources was felt to have more to offer.
Government, business, research institutions, the metros, developers, ordinary citizens, job seekers and the environment itself could emerge victorious when a whole new sector was opened in South Africa, the Danish Embassy emphasised.
