Eskom looking to renewables as S Africa is reducing coal power

• South African utility Eskom Holdings SOC will close down roughly 30% of its existing coal-fired power generation ability over the following years and repurpose some of the websites for solar energy production.

The utility plans to close 8,000 MW to 12,000 MW of coal-fired plants in its aging fleet in the next 10 years, it claimed in a Twitter article on Tuesday, pointing out that the ordinary age of the majority of its facilities is 41 years. According to its site, the total power generation ability stands at 44,171 MW, of which 36,479 MW originates from coal.

As part of the strategy, the firm's Komati power facility will certainly discontinue procedures in October 2022. Repurposing works at the site have already been initiated under a Just Energy Transition" project to develop a 500-kW agrivoltaic system, as well as a microgrid assembly and also manufacture manufacturing facility. The photovoltaic (PV) plant will be coupled with 244 MWh of battery storage capability.

Comparable projects will be carried out at the Grootvlei, Hendrina and Camden stations, set up for retired life by 2025.

An Eskom authorities told Reuters this summertime that the utility is seeking financial obligation to start a USD-10-billion strategy that will certainly see it close a lot of its coal-fired plants by 2050 as well as replace the capability with renewable energy.