Eskom begins renewable energy research

2 August 2010

A research project aimed at exploring South Africa's sources of renewable energy has been launched by one of the continent's largest generators and transmitters of electricity.

Eskom is keen to identify appropriate alternative solutions to meet the growing electricity needs of the country and proposed the first ever commercial-scale Concentrated Solar Power plant in sub-Saharan Africa through the scheme.

The programme will also be the first utility-scale wind power plant in South Africa under the Eskom Renewable Energy Investment Project and could cost over $1.2 (£760 million) billion, part of which would come from Africa Development Bank Group and the Clean Technology Fund.

Additional funds for developing the infrastructure are expected to be provided by the World Bank, European Investment Bank, Agence Française de Developpement and KfW, the German government-owned development bank.

Eskom produces approximately 95 per cent of the electricity used in South Africa, as well as about 45 per cent of the power consumed in Africa.

Category: Energy