"Solar energy is the only option left, we'll have to rely entirely on solar energy in the near future"

So says SOLTRAIN regional co-ordinator, Professor Dieter Holm.

Japan's nuclear meltdown has raised questions on possible alternative sources of energy in South Africa, as confidence in atomic energy dwindles across the globe.

The devastating earthquake on 11 March that triggered a tsunami in Japan destroyed reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, causing radiation leaks. This has led to a decrease in the country’s energy capacity.  

According to Professor Holm, the use of renewable energies such as wind, gas and particularly solar energy are quite feasible in South Africa.

“Countries such as Austria and Germany are leaders in solar energy; but they have half the sunshine we have in South Africa - We can produce twice the output,” he says.

The government's Integrated Resource Plan 2010 lays out a possible path for South Africa’s energy future up to 2030. The plan proposes an increase of 9,600MW of nuclear power generation, which would be five times more than the current output which stands at 1,800MW. It also hopes that by 2019, 5GW wind and 600MW of solar energy will be generated.

According to Professor Holm, nuclear energy is an unsustainable source of energy, and the implications have been illustrated by the nuclear meltdown in Japan.

"Nuclear energy is costly, doesn’t create jobs and does not reach the rural poor.

"The use of solar energy is a major job creator; South Africa has a major problem with unemployment that it is struggling to resolve. Renewable energy is environmentally beneficial and sustainable."

Alternative sources of energy that also have feasibility in South Africa include gas and wind energy.

“Wind is feasible around the coastal and escarpment areas. Coastal areas have more cloud cover which is not ideal for solar [which is better situated inland]. However the two are complementary, because solar is most efficient when the wind is not blowing,” the professor says.

Gas is less attractive an option, he believes, because it is scarce and contributes to the greenhouse problem, caused by its emission of carbon dioxide when burnt.

Holm is optimistic that with interventions from government and the private sector, by 2050 South Africa will be making use of 100% renewable energies and be off unsustainable energy completely. This, he says, can be achieved by the implementation of legislation that encourages the use of competitive energy, which to date South Africa has failed to capitalise on.

- Chivimbiso Gava is part of the Avusa Media Graduate Training Programme