Windiest spots could optimise alternative energy for South Africa

May 2012 News

The recent release of the Wind Atlas for South Africa, a joint project by the CSIR, SANERI, SAWS, UCT and Riso DTU, is a boon to the development of renewable energy within South Africa. Barbara Thompson, deputy minister of energy, said at the launch of the new atlas that wind is one of many resources the country is endowed with to help ensure its energy security.

Resource rich areas, like the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape have all been identified as optimal locations for wind turbines. “The existence of a freely available and accurate mesoscale wind atlas will enable the optimum planning of wind energy projects, greatly enhancing their bankability and, ultimately, maximising the benefits that will accrue to the South African public,” says Frost & Sullivan’s energy and power systems research analyst, Gareth Blanckenberg. “Energy generated from renewable energy technologies is currently not cost competitive with conventional power generation sources, the release of the wind atlas will therefore be most bene-ficial by ensuring that these wind energy resources deliver maximum returns.”

For more information contact Samantha James, Frost & Sullivan, +27 (0)21 680 3574, [email protected], www.frost.com

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