South Africa is running out of grid space — could rooftop solar be the answer?
With the national grid nearing capacity, especially in the Cape provinces, energy analyst Nick Hedley argues it's time to roll out a coordinated rooftop solar programme.
FILE: Solar panels. Picture: Pexels
CapeTalk's John Maytham is joined by Nick Hedley, a freelance journalist and energy analyst, whose latest piece via News24, argues compellingly for a national rooftop solar procurement programme.
When it comes to electricity, South Africa is fast running out of available grid capacity.
As such, writes energy analyst Nick Hedley in his latest News24 article, there is a compelling argument for a national rooftop solar procurement programme.
He explains that the best wind and solar resources are located in the three Cape provinces, but says there is no longer grid capacity to connect new projects.
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"So, if we move energy production close to where it's consumed - in other words generate close to where businesses are - that kind of solves the transmission issue."
- Nick Hedley, Energy analyst
He admits that while it doesn't solve the problem completely, there is the potential for a huge amount of energy generation capacity on rooftops.
"On rooftops of big warehouses and malls and shopping complexes."
- Nick Hedley, Energy analyst
But if it's so obviously a benefit, countered Maytham, why isn't it being done?
Hedley says it's likely to do with cost, admitting that rooftop solar is slightly more expensive than the larger scale grids.
"A big ground mountain solar farm in the Northern Cape can deliver power at around 60c a kilowatt hour, whereas an installation on the roof of a warehouse would deliver power at around R1 a kilowatt hour."
- Nick Hedley, Energy analyst
But Hedley argues that the R1 is still very competitive.
Click here to read his full piece from News 24, and scroll up to audio player to listen to the full conversation from Afternoon Drive