SUMMARY: The book looks at how South Africa moved from cheap, abundant, and unconstrained energy to its current state. The authors explore ways to allow South Africa to return to an era of cheap and abundant electricity. It seeks to show the advantages of a renewable energy-led electricity mix, looking at the costs, job creation, and how an energy transition can lead to a more competitive industrial economy, create new trade opportunities, accelerate economic development, and re-establish South Africa as a preferred electricity investment destination.
KEY FINDING / RECOMMENDATIONS: The book reckons a coal-based energy system is no longer economically viable. Cheaper alternatives such as solar power and onshore wind have proven more competitive and a feasible alternative. The low cost of a renewable energy system with solar and wind energy will enable SA to host a power system mix of renewable energy technologies and progressively pursue a large “electrification of just about everything.” However, wholesale privatisation of generation assets may not be politically feasible in South Africa and significant changes in the supply mix can only be expected 10-20 years down the road.