South Africa power reforms: The Path to a dominant renewable energy-sourced grid
Oladimeji Joseph Ayamolowo, Patrick T. Manditereza, K. Kusakana
Abstract
South Africa power system has undergone several power reforms from the pre-apartheid to post-apartheid era under various administrations in a bid to meet the increasing energy demand of its populace. Her enormous available renewable energy sources give hope for a revolutionized power sector with minimal environmental pollution. This research will therefore review the energy transition phases of South Africa power sector from the pre-apartheid to post-apartheid era, highlighting the various strides made by South African government towards the realization of a dominant renewable energy sourced grid. Furthermore, performance evaluation of the renewable energy driven programmes and its impact in promoting renewable energy sourced grid will be carried out based on five key performance metrics which are energy accessibility, energy diversification and enhancement, energy governance, environmental impact, and economic impact. In addition, the prevailing challenges of the South Africa energy system is highlighted, while a proposed model towards achieving a dominant renewable energy sourced grid is put forward.