South Africa

Delegate: Dr. Thembakazi Mali , SANEDI. Alternate: Ms. Kubeshnie Bhugwandin, Eskom Research, Testing & Demonstration

The summary in this section was provided by Thembakazi Mali, SANERI

In South Africa there is a lot going on in Renewable Energy. A number of Solar, Wind, Hydro and Biomass projects have reached financial close and some plants will be coming on stream in the next two years. 

However, there is very little activity on Ocean Energy and there has not been substantial investment except a couple of university research projects. Eskom is continuing to monitor the Agulhas current and they are also performing wave resource assessments at 8 locations around the south and south eastern sea board of South Africa.

The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and Eskom launched an ‘open innovation challenge’ through which they hope to stimulate the development of commercially viable ocean-current-energy technologies. The open innovation challenge is looking for proven-concept proposals that are environmentally and aesthetically sensitive and have potential for technology development on a commercial scale. This challenge aims to bring the much required impetus to accelerate South African innovations and commercialise a technology.

Thirty eight proposals were received from both the local and international market. Seven proposals were shortlisted for funding and potential further development. A meeting of the South African Ocean Energy Network was convened and it is expected that the network which consist of interested stakeholders will eventually be an association. 

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