UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
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SUE4801: Environmental Studies
Assignment 01 — Semester 1, 2026
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SUE4801
Module Code:
Environmental Studies
Module Name:
Renewable Energy in South Africa
Assignment Topic:
01
Assignment Number:
30
Total Marks:
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for SUE4801 — UNISA 2026
, UNISA | SUE4801 Renewable Energy — Assignment 01
Question 1: Renewable Energy Resources in South Africa
South Africa’s energy landscape has undergone considerable change over the past two decades,
with the country progressively expanding its portfolio of renewable energy technologies to re-
duce reliance on coal and curb greenhouse gas emissions (Ukoba, Inambao and Madyira, 2025).
The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP),
launched in 2011, has been the primary mechanism driving this expansion, attracting sub-
stantial private sector investment across multiple renewable technologies (Mathibedi et al.,
2025).
1.1 Renewable Energy Resources Currently Used in South Africa
South Africa currently uses the following renewable energy resources to generate electricity
and meet energy demands:
1. Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Energy — Converts sunlight directly into electricity using
photovoltaic panels. Both utility-scale solar farms and rooftop installations are widely
deployed across the country, particularly in the Northern Cape.
2. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) — Uses mirrors or lenses to focus sunlight onto
a receiver, generating heat that drives a turbine to produce electricity. South Africa has
several CSP facilities, including the Bokpoort and Kaxu CSP plants.
3. Wind Energy — Harnessed through wind turbines located primarily along the southern
and western coastlines. South Africa had an installed wind capacity of 3,442 MW by 2022
(Wikipedia, 2025).
4. Hydropower — Electricity is generated from flowing water through seven hydroelectric
power stations, all owned by Eskom, situated mainly in the Eastern Cape.
5. Biomass Energy — Organic material such as agricultural residues, forestry waste, and
municipal solid waste is burned or converted to generate energy.
6. Biogas (Landfill Gas) — Gas captured from decomposing organic matter in landfills is
used to generate electricity. Several landfill gas projects operate under the REIPPPP.
7. Pumped Storage Hydropower — A form of energy storage and generation where
water is pumped to a high reservoir during off-peak periods and released through turbines
during peak demand. The Drakensberg and Kogelberg pumped storage schemes are the
primary facilities.
Page 2 of 12
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄⋄
SUE4801: Environmental Studies
Assignment 01 — Semester 1, 2026
⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄⋄
SUE4801
Module Code:
Environmental Studies
Module Name:
Renewable Energy in South Africa
Assignment Topic:
01
Assignment Number:
30
Total Marks:
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for SUE4801 — UNISA 2026
, UNISA | SUE4801 Renewable Energy — Assignment 01
Question 1: Renewable Energy Resources in South Africa
South Africa’s energy landscape has undergone considerable change over the past two decades,
with the country progressively expanding its portfolio of renewable energy technologies to re-
duce reliance on coal and curb greenhouse gas emissions (Ukoba, Inambao and Madyira, 2025).
The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP),
launched in 2011, has been the primary mechanism driving this expansion, attracting sub-
stantial private sector investment across multiple renewable technologies (Mathibedi et al.,
2025).
1.1 Renewable Energy Resources Currently Used in South Africa
South Africa currently uses the following renewable energy resources to generate electricity
and meet energy demands:
1. Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Energy — Converts sunlight directly into electricity using
photovoltaic panels. Both utility-scale solar farms and rooftop installations are widely
deployed across the country, particularly in the Northern Cape.
2. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) — Uses mirrors or lenses to focus sunlight onto
a receiver, generating heat that drives a turbine to produce electricity. South Africa has
several CSP facilities, including the Bokpoort and Kaxu CSP plants.
3. Wind Energy — Harnessed through wind turbines located primarily along the southern
and western coastlines. South Africa had an installed wind capacity of 3,442 MW by 2022
(Wikipedia, 2025).
4. Hydropower — Electricity is generated from flowing water through seven hydroelectric
power stations, all owned by Eskom, situated mainly in the Eastern Cape.
5. Biomass Energy — Organic material such as agricultural residues, forestry waste, and
municipal solid waste is burned or converted to generate energy.
6. Biogas (Landfill Gas) — Gas captured from decomposing organic matter in landfills is
used to generate electricity. Several landfill gas projects operate under the REIPPPP.
7. Pumped Storage Hydropower — A form of energy storage and generation where
water is pumped to a high reservoir during off-peak periods and released through turbines
during peak demand. The Drakensberg and Kogelberg pumped storage schemes are the
primary facilities.
Page 2 of 12
