South Africa’s renewable energy procurement project under its renewable energy feed-in tariff program kicks off with the release of a request for information from investors.
The request for information is part of the preparation for the feed-in tariff program. “We hope that the [request for information ] will provide us with enough information to assess the progress developers have made since the announcement of the [renewable energy feed-in tariff] programme as well as the readiness of the market to enter into intensive procurement and fast-track negotiation processes,” said Ompi Aphane, the department of energy’s acting deputy director-general.
The projects under the procurement include biogas, biomass, concentrated solar power with and without storage and large-scale grid photovoltaic systems with at least 1 MW capacity as well as small hydropower, landfill gas and onshore wind.
Mr. Aphane said the department identified the feed-in tariff program to stimulate South Africa’s renewable industry and make it reach a target of 10,000 gigawatt-hours of renewable capacity by 2013.
The department of energy said it will first gather information about the interests of renewable energy investors before taking further steps in the procurement process.
The department also seeks submissions from municipalities, financial institutions and technology and equipment suppliers.
The department entered into an agreement with the national treasury and the Development Bank of Southern Africa on Independent Power Producers.
“One key element of a proposed renewable energy programme will be the entrepreneurship and innovativeness of South Africa’s industrial and financial sectors, and another element will be the development by the Government of appropriate policies and frameworks that would encourage and guide the private sector,” Mr. Aphane said.
