Since 2016, Eskom has refused to sign further
contracts under the Renewable Energy
Independent Power Producer Procurement
Programme (REIPPPP) which would put more
renewable energy on the grid
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Eskom’s on-going scapegoating of renewable energy as the
reason behind its Únancial woes shows a lack of vision,
particularly in the light of the urgent need to develop new jobs
beyond the coal industry.
Instead, the utility should be leading the country into a greener,
more equitable energy future which will help South Africa both
create new, cleaner jobs and meet its international obligations
to the Paris agreement, which is aimed at urgently limiting the
most damaging aspects of climate change.
The transition of jobs from the coal industry has long been a
critical area due to increasing levels of automation while the
closure of ageing coal stations has been on the cards for years.
This week, in her report to the parliamentary portfolio
committee, Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Browne once
again cited cost as one of the reasons for Eskom’s reluctance to
sign renewable energy agreements with independent power
producers. However, she failed to sketch the bigger picture
surrounding the decreasing price of renewable energy versus
the rising environmental cost of coal.
These hidden costs are paid in human health, water pollution
and long-term climate change – and more often than not the
poorest in the country are most impacted by air pollution and
will be hardest hit by climate change.
The government also has an important role to play in ensuring
that the transition to a low carbon economy is equitable by
assisting in skills development for the renewable industry and
mandating that coal mines and plants have an end-of-life
policy that ensures that such training is available for their
workers.
In terms of their agreements, the independent power
producers (IPPs) are required to provide jobs and to share
ownership with local communities, compared to the coal mines
and power stations where no such requirement exists. As a
Earth Hour 2017
Six reasons why
renewable energy is the
future
Eskom must show
leadership when it
comes to renewable
energy
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consequence the IPPs have provided far better socioeconomic
development gains than the coal industry.
In another argument, Eskom has blamed renewable energy for
creating excess capacity with consequent job losses in the coal
trucking sector. The truth is that renewables at best currently
make up only around 4% of the total energy mix – and the vast
majority of our energy still comes from coal, with new coal
stations adding to this capacity. Rather, the utility currently
faces a cash Ûow crisis and needs to claw back losses due to
mismanagement detailed in the Denton Report.
As a consequence of Eskom’s continued reluctance to back
renewable energy, WWF South Africa is asking South Africans
to sign a petition to the utility
Finally, the Hendrina, Kriel, Komati, Grootvlei and Camden coal
stations, which are set to close, are among the oldest, thirstiest,
dirtiest and most costly of South Africa’s coal power stations.
(Camden and Grootvlei were previously mothballed and then
revived to deal with the 2008 electricity crisis). As aging coal
plants reach retirement age, the most cost-eÙective
replacement would be renewable energy.
Sign the Earth Hour Petition
As a consequence of Eskom’s continued reluctance to back
renewable energy, WWF South Africa is asking South Africans
to sign a petition to the utility as part of this year’s Earth Hour
campaign.
Since 2016, Eskom has refused to sign further contracts under
the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer
Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) which would put more
renewable energy on the grid. Instead, the utility is resolutely
pursuing an electricity programme that relies heavily on coal
and is actively promoting an unaÙordably expensive and
environmentally questionable nuclear build.
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China to invest £291bn in
renewable energy to
combat pollution
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Ultimately, South Africa should be aiming for 100% of our
energy to come from renewable sources if the country is to
honour its climate action commitments to the Paris Agreement.
Renewable energy will not only reduce carbon emissions, but
can also be scaled up and deployed quickly to match the
country’s need for energy – far quicker than large coal and
nuclear new builds.
Some renewable energy can already supply cheaper electricity
than the newest coal power plants. The cost gap will only
increase in the future, with renewables getting cheaper and
coal likely to get more expensive.
Dr Morné du Plessis, CEO of WWF South Africa, commented:
“In order to avoid the extreme impacts of runaway climate
change, we need to reduce our carbon emissions urgently by
introducing more renewable energy into the energy mix. Yet,
the bulk of South Africa’s carbon emissions come from
electricity generated by fossil fuels such as coal and oil. This
has to change.
“We know that Eskom has the power to unblock this hold-up,
and thus enable all the socio-economic and environmental
beneÚts that will result from the renewable energy programme.
By signing this petition, South Africans will be calling on the
utility to exercise this power for the greater good of all.”
We urge all supporters to visit the website at
www.WWF.org.za/earthhour to sign the petition before Earth
Hour which takes place on 25 March 2017 between 8.30pm and
9.30pm this year.
Distributed by APO on behalf of World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The bulk of SA’s carbon emissions come from fossil fuel generated electricity.
To address this, SA needs to introduce more renewable energy into the country’s electricity mix.
South Africa’s programme to introduce renewable energy into its energy mix has been hailed globally as one of the most advanced and successful renewable energy programmes.
In 2016, despite the success of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme, Eskom refused to sign the full amount of contracts which were awarded as part of the programme.
This effectively put the brakes on renewable energy potential and its many benefits for South Africans.
The programme has increased the installed capacity of renewables from practically zero to over 2000MW in just five years.
Here are six convincing reasons why renewables are the future:

Not only does renewable energy reduce carbon emissions, but infrastructure can be built quickly to match the country’s need for electricity.
Some renewables already supply cheaper electricity than the newest coal power plants. Renewables will get cheaper and coal and nuclear likely more expensive.
South Africa is taking the lead in Africa which gives us the opportunity to become a key global player in this growing industry.
Investment in renewable energy in SA can provide decent jobs and increase skills.
SA is a solar-rich country with one of the highest solar resources in the world.
WWF research has found that 95% of our power could be generated through renewable resources (water, wind, sun) by 2050 using technologies that already exist or are being developed.
In short, renewable energy is a no brainer.  In 2016, Eskom refused to sign the full amount of contracts that were awarded as part of the programme, effectively putting the brakes on renewable energy potential.
Stop Eskom from putting the brakes on renewable energy in South Africa. Use your Power. Sign the petition.

Earth Hour is a global citizen movement of positive change for the environment. For one hour – from 8.30pm to 9.30pm – on the last Saturday of March, people are encouraged to switch off their lights as a symbolic gesture of unity to reflect on our impact on the planet.

What began as a local event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, has exploded into a worldwide symbolic event focused on switching off the lights for one hour and to take climate action.
2016 saw an unprecedented 178 countries and territories participating and over 400 landmarks being switched off.
Each year on the last Saturday in March, hundreds of thousands use their collective voice to inspire, motivate and lead the charge on their hopes, dreams and concerns about the planet.
On home soil, South Africans got switched on to the power of Earth Hour in 2009 ahead of climate change talks in Copenhagen, Denmark. This momentum led WWF South Africa to inspire many more South Africans to sign up and switch off.


Every year Earth Hour mobilises more support for the planet, exceeding expectations and inspiring change on various environmental concerns:

Fighting deforestation in Uganda
A 10-year freeze on a new oil project in the Arctic
The creation of a national park in Malaysia
A reduction in energy usage in Brunei Darussalam and stronger climate change laws in Scotland and Switzerland
In South Africa, inspiring people and organisations to use their power and say yes to renewable energy
Power down, unplug and switch off in South Africa during Earth Hour on 25th March from 8:30pm to 9:30 pm.