Renewable energy shines for economy

Author: Linda Ensor

ENERGY from renewable projects generated last year had a net benefit of R800m to the economy. 

This is according to the manager of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s energy centre, Tobias Bischof-Niemz. 

The benefit was calculated by taking into account coal (R400m) and diesel (R3.3bn) consumption Eskom saved by having the renewable energy on the grid. The macro-economic benefit of R1.7bn, which Eskom accrued by avoiding load shedding for 117 hours last year, was also factored in. 

From this total financial benefit of R5.3bn, R4.5bn in tariffs was paid to independent power producers in the renewable sector. 

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