Technology companies will have a key role to play if the world is to meet electricity demands that are set to double by the year 2030.
This is according to Bruce Grobler, Southern Africa IT business director at Schneider Electric, who addressed delegates at a summit hosted by pan-African ICT firm XON in Sun City yesterday.
Grobler said rising energy demands, coupled with the need to lower carbon emissions, have given alternative energy technologies the chance to come to the fore in pursuit of sustainable solutions. "With the world's population set to reach eight billion by 2030, the question is whether we will have the capacity to deal with the increased demand."
Local energy utility Eskom has struggled with a strained power grid this year, announcing load-shedding implementation in recent months. However, some members of SA's public and private sector have showed faith in renewable energy infrastructure, including a recent launch of a solar-powered taxi rank in Cape Town.
Powering up
Meanwhile, XON's alternative energy division is more active beyond SA's borders and aims to grow its presence across Africa through its solar hybrid power solution.
Magnus Coetzee, the division's MD, noted the company's mobile solar hybrid energy solution provides photovoltaic technology for electricity generation in remote areas.
Coetzee added that in a bid to foster long-term relationships with partners across the continent, XON continues to approach energy utilities and governments in the region. "There is always demand for and a shortage of electricity, so we engage them on solar or solar plant development.
"We would bring expertise in the construction, supply and financing of the plant directly to them."
The solar plants add up to 50MW into different grids where they are linked, explained Coetzee.
Xon aims bolster its operations that are already under way in Mali, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique.
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