eskom guns for a bigger role in africa despite a possible grid collapse - energy storage solutions
The South African energy future roadmap proposed at the African Utility Week warned, "do-it-yourself-
It could eventually lead to the collapse of the national energy network.
Ted Blom, an energy expert, presented his "roadmap" to delegates at a public utilities conference on Tuesday ".
The warning is in sharp contrast to the remarks made earlier in the day by Eskom interim administrator Phakamani Hadebe.
Hadebe told delegates that Eskom plans to play a bigger role in Africa.
"Energy is the lifeblood of Africa and a human right.
It is not optional.
This is essential.
It is for this reason that we should regard ourselves as representing the continent rather than the utility or the country.
Blom drew a more dirty picture for Eskom locally.
"We are sitting with a broken energy department," he said, citing a range of issues including corruption and unethical leadership for power companies and the National Energy Department.
Blom mentioned 27 renewable energy projects signed last month with independent private producers.
He stressed that Eskom has become a "supplier of last resort" due to contractual constraints, with serious consequences for its revenue generation.
"Even under the leadership of the new government, there is still a" lack of funding and professional guidance because the new Eskom board does not have real energy experience, guided into the ground by those who plunder Eskom and drive its development ".
He compared the situation during the new government period with "changing chairs on Titanic.
"The bottom line is that South Africans don't get the cheapest energy," he said . ".
"Given this confusion and lack of energy reliability, we will see a very liberating energy sector in this part of the world," he warned . ".
"It means that people will adopt survival strategies and will do what they can to survive the power crisis because it is not over yet.
Blom said in South Africa's energy future roadmap that the country will see growth in what he calls DIY power.
"We are going to face the situation where no energy-intensive homes and light industries will do their own thing because their needs are not being met now.
"If they do it themselves in a cooperative way, they can do it cheaper.
So, the micro-grid will definitely explode.
This is not all doom and darkness.
Blom said he expects a huge technological breakthrough in DIY
Storage solutions for power and new energy.
However, he warned: "Due to the lack of pressure on utilities, we will see costs out of control, the grid run down, no money to repair, and eventually collapse.
"It could happen in one day or ten years," he said . ".
The African Utility Week meeting ended on Thursday.