In the absence of an update to the outdated national Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity, IRP2010-2030, the CSIR Energy Centre has presented its own study to re-optimise the South African power capacity and energy mix from 2016 to 2040.
Interesting conclusions on the re-optimized, least-cost mix of power to 2040:
- The need for new coal and new nuclear power is completely removed.
- The mix will save the economy c.R330-billion over this period, rising to R87-billion per annum by 2040.
- Water usage some 60% lower than that of the “business as usual” scenario, with a saving of 40-billion litres of water per annum by 2040.
For more, see this Daily Maverick ar ticle