Eskom power company says it will need an additional 53,000MW of new generation capacity over the next 10 years to ensure energy security in South Africa. This will require “special measures” to speed up network deployment, he said.

The group outlined the situation at the Transmission Development Plan (TDP) public forum on Thursday, October 27, where they said the additional capacity would focus specifically on renewable energy sources. generation, such as wind and solar power.

This new added capacity of 53,000 MW covers the current deficit of 4,000 MW to 6,000 MW and constitutes a substantial revision of the 2021 PDT, based on the Plan’s new capacity assumptions. Integrated Resources Plan 2019 (PRI2019), is proposed around 30,000 MW of new capacity by 2030.

high-voltage lines and 170 transformers by 2032,” he said.

With long-term uncertainties, the group said that it will focus on implementing projects in the next 5 years. However, this will have a significant cost.

The analysis performed reflects the need for approximately 2,890 km of additional high-voltage lines and 60 transformers, requiring an investment of Rs 72.2 billion by the financial year 2027, he stated.

“In order to carry out network consolidation projects over the next 5 years, we must take special steps to accelerate network deployment. This will certainly require careful planning on our part, as well as alignment, coordination and support from all key stakeholders.” The updated

TDP also takes into account the decline in the energy availability factor (EAF) of Eskom’s coal fleet, which was a key factor in the drafting of IRP2019.

“The additional production capacity requirements also take into account Eskom’s 2035 business strategy and have taken into account the connectivity requests received from various Department of Minerals and Resources procurement programs and Energy (DMRE) and applications receive from non-DMRE integration programs, as well as input from various renewable energy associations.

Adapting to this increased transmit capacity means that a reliable and sufficient transmission network is needed to integrate and distribute this new capacity to load centers across the country.

Eskom’s managing director of transmission, Segomoco Scheppers, says the next five years are critical for supply security.

“If the requirements of TDP 2022 to provide sufficient transmission network capacity by 2027 are met, a substantial investment of Rs 72.2 billion will be required to expand and strengthen the network. transmission network in the next 5 years.

“Of these, Rs 50.8 billion is needed for new capacity expansion projects to meet new generation load and capacity connectivity requirements, and to acquire new capacity device. An additional Rs 21.4 billion is needed to refurbish the existing asset base and purchase production equipment.

Separation

Giving an update on the legal separation of Transmission business as a 100% subsidiary of Eskom, the team said the process is in an advanced stage, with the Transmission

entity already in the process. registered as National Transmission Company South Africa (NTC) SOC Ltd.

“A binding merger agreement has been entered into with precedent conditions that must be met for the efficient transfer of business from Eskom to the Transmission entity. After fulfilling the precedent conditions, the NTC will be put into operation and the employees will be transferred to the company with the same conditions of service without interrupting their years of service.

The application for an electricity license for NTC was returned to the National Energy Administration of South Africa (NERSA) in September 2022 and is under review.

“Eskom relies on governments and lenders to make key claims. The expected start of NTC trading is in the new financial year, provided all precedent conditions are met.