Cape Town – Cape Town Independent Power Producers (IPPs) showcased the role renewable energy has played in addressing the energy crisis amid the scramble for more energy to be added to the national grid.

South Africa’s renewables programme has resulted in more than 6 000MW of generation capacity being allocated to bidders across a variety of technologies, principally in wind and solar through the Renewable Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP), which is aimed at bringing additional megawatts onto the country’s electricity system.

Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said: “Today, South Africa is witnessing a rapid growth in private sector investments in the form of Independent Power Projects. We note a similar trend is emerging on the rest of the continent. But we must ensure Africans become active participants in these projects.”

Red Rocket, an integrated renewable energy IPP based in Cape Town, provides the full life cycle for all renewable technologies: solar, wind, biomass and hydro, and has 1 000MW of projects in operations, under construction and near financial close in South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Mali.

Red Rocket CEO Matteo Brambilla was pleased with how clean energy had been embraced in the past few years and said the company’s landmark signing with Eskom last week spoke to how well IPPs were viewed and their ability to collaborate to address the energy crisis.