South Africa’s Renewable Energy Need Intensifies Despite Grid Challenges, Says Eskom Manager

South Africa's thirst for renewable energy continues to grow, regardless of the complexities it introduces in managing Eskom's energy network and the stress it places on the national grid. This perspective was shared by Isabel Fick, Eskom's General Manager for System Operations, at a recent event hosted by UCT's Energy Systems Research Group and the Presidential Climate Commission.

Renewable energy resources present the inherent fluctuation of generating electricity only under suitable weather conditions; the sun must shine for solar power, just as wind turbines require the wind to blow. Such variables make managing Eskom's network more challenging for Fick and her team due to abrupt weather changes, drastically altering supply and demand.

In Gauteng alone, the reduction of electric power and inconsistent output from solar installations can suddenly spike electricity demand up to 2,000 MW. Wind power seeks its own set of challenges, with oversupply and shortages common due to unpredictable weather patterns, adding to the complex nature of managing Eskom’s network.

Despite these hurdles, Fick strongly advocates South Africa's need for a substantial increase in renewable energy usage. Advocating the development of wind and solar generation across the country, Fick believes the future of renewables lies outside of the Cape provinces.

Many countries encounter similar challenges integrating renewable energy sources into their power grids, according to Craig Hart from the International Energy Agency's renewable integration unit (IEA). Countries are now developing "system-friendly" renewable generation, with closer placement to the primary load centres in wind and solar plants.

South Africa, however, faces the additional challenge of slow grid development, undermining the pace at which renewable energy capacity is growing. This sluggish pace of investment, compared to that in renewable sources, threatens stability, lending to concerns over oversupply, undersupply and overall grid stability.