Africa-Press – South-Africa. China’s Trina Solar expects to annually supply South Africa with solar panels and equipment that can generate a gigawatt of power due to ongoing demand for large-scale projects, according to its regional director.
The company has supplied technology for photovoltaic projects in partnership with EDF Renewables.
It imported more than a gigawatt of equipment in the last 12 months. However, demand has shifted among consumers in the most industrialised nation on the continent, Zaheer Khan, Trina’s southern Africa director, said in an interview in Cape Town.
South Africa suffered record power outages for two years before state-owned Eskom stabilised supply in March last year. The improved reliability reduced the demand by homeowners to install rooftop solar panels.
“The residential sector in particular has diminished,” Khan said. Commercial and industrial use is still at a stable level as firms focus more on emissions, and Eskom’s electricity prices increase.
“How would you not want to have a cheaper plant if you’re also getting a better carbon profile?” he said.
South Africa will require more renewable energy capacity as several coal plants that generate most of the nation’s electricity are scheduled for retirement over the next decade. Its energy plans have considered adding nearly four gigawatts of solar projects by 2030.
Trina Solar is involved in a number of projects between 500 megawatts and a gigawatt that it’s shortlisted for this year, according to Khan.
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