Exhibition Ticker - Clean Power Africa to take place Cape Town from 14-15 May

In each market where wind energy is being developed, the state is a big player in the initial stages of industry development; and is often the sponsor of pilot projects according to Dr Emelly Mutambatsere, Principal Regional Economist, African Development Bank. As co-author of a comprehensive study for the AdB on the Development of Wind Energy in Africa, Dr Mutambatsere is a speaker on the topic at the upcoming Clean Power Africa that is taking place in Cape Town from 14-15 May.

Clean Power Africa is Africa’s leading event where major stakeholders from the renewable energy sector get together and explore clean generation as a feasible solution to fulfil Africa’s electricity needs. The event is co-located with the 13th annual African Utility Week which is attended by some 5 000 power & water professionals from all over the continent and Eskom CE Brian Dames will once again deliver the keynote address.

60 ongoing and planned wind projects
Dr Mutambatsere says in the initial stages of the wind market development, donor financing is very visible and as the market matures, both sponsors and financiers enter the market, from public entities and grant financing, to public-private/private entities and non-concessional financing. “However,” she says, “the market has not yet developed to the point where it can be fully funded by the private sector, therefore development finance institutions remain major players.”

By the end of 2011 the developed potential on the continent saw a strong concentration of wind energy capacity in three North African countries, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. Says Dr Mutambatsere: “Egypt held half of the continent’s total installed capacity, followed by Morocco with 40% and Tunisia with 5%. Outside of North Africa, there is commercial capacity in Cape Verde, and limited capacity in South Africa, Kenya, Mauritius, Eritrea and Mozambique.”

She continues: “the market’s outlook is also noteworthy. Our survey produced a comprehensive sample of about 60 ongoing and planned wind energy projects on the continent. This places South and East African markets in the lead in terms of market growth. South Africa alone is expected to contribute a third of the wind energy capacity currently under developed or planned in Africa; and Kenya is making significant strides toward developing what is poised to be the continent’s largest wind power project. This trend is attributed to increased strategic focus on wind in these regions, whilst in the North market development has been stalled by socio-economic instability.”

Business environment important
According to the AdB Principal Regional Economist, Africa’s wind energy market has developed at a pace similar to that observed in leading markets at the early stages of their industry development. She adds: “Despite this progress and the presence of significant potential on the continent, we should not expect wind to take over conventional energy resources in terms of share in the electricity generation mix, as key structural characteristics of the market affect both efficacy in addressing the energy access challenge, and competitiveness of wind, relative to non-renewable energy resources.”

The report states that the business environment is important for the development of a wind energy market. Says Dr Mutambatsere: “We observe that fast growing wind energy markets have benefited from strong political will, supported by strategic policy direction and an enabling business environment, including industry specific legislation.”

The report reflects opinions of the authors, and not those of the African Development Bank Group’s management, Board of Directors or the countries they represent.

More Clean Power Africa speaker highlights:

Overview of trends and policy
- Renewable energy usage in South Africa and Africa: an international comparison, Roula Inglesi-Lotz, Senior Lecturer, Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, South Africa

- A review of renewable energy policy considerations for SADC countries, Martin Manuhwa, Managing Director, ZAIDG, Zimbabwe

- Effective “Plug & Play” Grid Integration of PV Plants, Vladimir Chadliev, Director Global Grid Integration, First Solar, South Africa

Update on the SA REIPP programme
- Status of the REIPP in South Africa, Karen Breytenbach, Department of Finance, South Africa*

- Learnings from 50 REIPP projects, Richard Doyle, Managing Director, 3E, South Africa

- Community aspects of the REIPPPP, Christiaan Bode, Director, Sidala Energy, South Africa

- Grid code compliance and renewable energy projects, Mick Barlow, Business
Development Director and Technical Advisor, S&C Europe, United Kingdom

On the expo floor, free CPD-accredited technical workshops on renewable energy include:
- Tips on how to become more energy efficient in your business
- How to identify the challenges facing the building of renewable projects
- Retrofitting hydropower to South African dams
- Constructing monitoring in PV and Wind
- Compliance of Solar PV installation with the new Renewable Grid Code