Green Economy Journal Issue 59

PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Dear Reader,
Our fortunes in the economy, generally, and in the renewable
energy sector specifically, wax and wane with loadshedding, albeit in a
converse relationship. We find ourselves back to maximum demand for
energy solutions as the frequency of loadshedding surges, while our
customers toil angrily in the dark or with the smell of diesel fumes in
their nostrils, and their financials in a mess.
Diesel is the story of the day as Eskom burns away R12.4-billion in
diesel (according to Business Maverick). The Diesel Syndicate, key among
the organised crime syndicates operating within the energy sector and
feeding off Eskom, is clearing flourishing.
Battery energy storage is emerging as the principal solution for
Eskom and for industry, with solar PV a much-needed addition to try
and square the economics, but not everyone has the roof or ground
space, and not everyone has sufficient line capacity, the two most
common constraints to rolling our a critical mass solar PV solution to
match loads. And so, due to the cost of batteries, systems are expensive
relative to utility savings, but thankfully still very attractive when diesel
cost is factored in.
At the current pace of energy project roll-out, just about every major
energy customer in the country will have some sort of alternative
energy solution in place within the next five years.
Eskom and the municipalities should be hard at work revising
their business models and finding ways to get involved and find new
revenue streams that add value to an inevitably and rapidly changing
energy landscape.
Yours,
Publisher
EDITOR’S NOTE
In an unprecedented move and under the umbrella of BUSA, CEOs of
South Africa’s largest companies from all sectors are coming together in a
coordinated and committed way. Their commitment is to work together
urgently to address our nations key challenges: energy, transport and
logistics as well as crime and corruption (page 8).
As South Africa ramps up its roll-out of renewable energy, it is now
confronting the same challenge faced by countries across the globe.
Depleted grid capacity in resource-rich areas is making it increasingly
difficult to connect new renewable energy projects to the grid,
particularly in the Northern, Eastern and Western Cape (page 38).
Driving a meaningful new energy vehicle (NEV) transition in South
Africa will require a careful balance of incentivising a sustained shift in
domestic market demand to NEVs; establishing an appropriately aligned,
renewable energy-based charging infrastructure and supporting a shift
in vehicle production (page 12).
Unless ambitious public policy action is taken, electric vehicles (EVs)
will remain the privilege of the few for the foreseeable future. A dual
strategy is necessary. It involves promoting the purchase of entry-level
EVs in the passenger car market while simultaneously fostering their
introduction in public transport (page 16).
Private participation in infrastructure and PPPs help bridge financing
gaps while delivering sustainable infrastructure in developing economies
— stimulating economic recovery. But how can PPPs be the “right tool”
to support sustainable and resilient infrastructure development? Find
out on page 32.
Enjoy this issue!
Alexis Knipe
Editor
G R E E N
Economy
journal
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Alexis Knipe
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Alexis Knipe
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Danielle Solomons
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CDC Design
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REG NUMBER: 2005/003854/07
VAT NUMBER: 4750243448
PUBLICATION DATE: August 2023
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G R E E N
Economy
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CONTENTS
4 NEWS AND SNIPPETS
ECONOMY
8 South African government and organised business establish
partnership initiative
MOBILITY
12 South Africa’s New Energy Vehicle Roadmap
16 Towards an inclusive rollout of EVs in SA
18 Understanding the African two-wheeler market
22 Get ready for graphite shortages as electric vehicles boom
INFRASTRUCTURE
26 The city/state infrastructure nexus
32 PPPs: the right tool for green and resilient infrastructure
34 Making a meaningful impact: ACTOM
ENERGY
36 Ecological transition has its own ecosystem
38 Grid capacity restraints jeopardise renewable energy projects
41 Avoid getting burnt
42 Solid foundations for SA’s growth in renewable energy
CIRCULARITY
44 Waste management: an economic-critical pillar to a greening
economy. By Interwaste
46 Circular economy: the systemic glue to the Nexus
50 Plastics SA celebrates the 27 th International Coastal
Clean-Up Day
WATER
52 South Africa’s water update
ENERGY
54 The push for renewable energy industrialisation
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