Integrated Resource Plan
The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) is a plan aimed at estimating South Africa's electricity demand. It takes into account how the demand of electricity will be met and the expense of such a demand.[1] The plan refers to electricity generation and expansion programmes.
In formulating the National Development Plan, the Department of Energy gazetted the Integrated Resource Plan 2010-2030 (IRP 2010) in March 2011; this forecasted the energy demand for the 20-year period. In October 2019, IRP 2019 was gazetted; this updates the energy forecast from 2019 to the year 2030.[2][1] In 2023, a draft IRP 2023 plan was released for the period 2030-2050.[3]
Objectives
[edit | edit source]The IRP was indicated to be a living document that would be revised and updated regularly.[4] Updated plans were released in 2019 and 2023, after the first in IRP in 2010.[1] The stated objectives of the IRP are:
- Make electricity inexpensive
- Reduce green house gas emissions
- Reduce water usage
- Electricity generation from different sources
History
[edit | edit source]IRP 2023
[edit | edit source]In December 2023, Cabinet approved the draft Integrated Resource Plan 2023. IRP 2023 takes into account two time horizons, 2030 and 2050. The plan includes significantly altered metrics that forecast a change in the electricity demand projection for the period 2030-2050; some of which are the cost of implementing new power generation technologies, shutting down of coal plants after 2035 and Eskom's forecasted energy availability factor.[3]
The present-to-2030 horizon is based on how far along current REIPPPP projects are in bringing electricity onto the grid.[3]
The 2031-2050 horizon focuses on implementing different types of stable and sustainable energy supply, and carbon capture.[3]
Implementation
[edit | edit source]As of IRP 2019, 9910.37 MW have been procured by the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme and are in use on the country's electrical grid.[1]
The following capacity has been commissioned as part of Eskom's build programme: 1 332 MW at Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme, 1 588 MW at Medupi, 800 MW at Kusile, and 100 MW at Sere Wind Farm. In total, 18 000 MW have been resourced as additional capacity.[1]
See also
[edit | edit source]- Energy in South Africa
- Renewable energy in South Africa
- Solar power in South Africa
- Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme
References
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