Browsing by Author "Netshithuthuni, Meshack Fhatuwani"

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Does South Africa’s energy regulatory framework promote renewable energy?
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Netshithuthuni, Meshack Fhatuwani; Field, Tracy Lynn
The South African economy heavily relies on fossil fuels such as coal as its major energy source. However, for more than fifteen years, South Africa has been faced with loadshedding and interrupted power cut, that results in persistent energy demand management. The cause is ascribed to inter alia, coal-fired power plants that are ageing, corruption, and lack of promotion of more renewables. The high dependence on coal-fired energy results in high significant environmental effects to the environment and human well-being. The environmental impacts include water and air pollution, climate change impacts due to GHG emissions. These emissions contribute to global warming, and diseases such as asthma, cancer, heart, and lung ailments. At the same time, South Africa has abundant renewable energy sources that can potentially reduce loadshedding, environmental effects or its energy deficit. The study accepts that renewable energy is sustainable, clean, and environmentally friendly in comparison to coal, although energy derived from renewables such as wind, solar, hydrogen cells and renewable- powered batteries also produce GHG emissions during manufacturing processes. The purpose of this study is to analyse and investigate the existing legal framework for promoting renewable energy sources as an alternative to non-renewable energy sources. In addition, this report seeks to determine whether the current regulatory framework sufficiently promotes and supports the integration of more renewables. It concludes that the current regulatory regime does not sufficiently promote and support the integration of renewable energy sources.