Nuclear and renewable: South Africa’s ambitious new energy mix

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Heavily reliant on coal-fired electricity, South Africa is launching ambitious new projects aimed at diversifying its energy sources and avoiding the regular power cuts that have hobbled the economy in recent years.

Solar and wind energy plants are mushrooming across the country while the government is planning a huge — and controversial — expansion of nuclear power.

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The government wants to pump an extra 9,600 megawatts of nuclear power into the national grid by building eight new reactors at an estimated cost of some $50 billion. China, France, Russia, South Korea and the United States are bidding to construct the plants, with the winner expected to be announced early next year. Apart from nuclear energy, South Africa is pressing ahead with renewable energy options.

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The outputs are small so far, but Eskom plans a huge expansion of energy from renewable sources. “By 2030 the aim is to almost double our capacity for electricity production in the country. And we want 42 percent of this new energy to come from renewables — the equivalent of 17,800 megawatts,” said Ayanda Nakedi, director of renewable department for Eskom.


http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/11/23/business/nuclear-and-renewable-south-africas-ambitious-new-energy-mix/#.VlXVgk2FM-X