ENERGY 4.0
46 countries it appears to be very well designed , an opinion I have heard from a number of sources I respect .
Many simply see the REIPPPP as a subsidy , but in any market there are cross-subsidies everywhere . So , the core benefit of such policy is to get the renewable energy industry established and the supply channels in place . Ultimately subsidies need to be removed and renewable energy needs to compete on its own merits .
The most likely first mover in South Africa sans subsidy is probably self-generation behind the meter , which with batteries would give a very secure electricity supply . WorleyParsons has assisted a number of commercial enterprises to analyse such systems , and in some parts of the world these can be very large , sometimes exceeding 100MW and designed as an integrated micro-grid .
When the price and reliability point of renewable energy meets a threshold , it will be unstoppable .
“ When the price and reliability point of renewable energy meets a threshold , it will be unstoppable ”
— Paul Ebert , Global Technology Director , New Energy
AUGUST 2018