Purpose of the Summit

The White Paper on Renewable Energy sets a target of 10 000 GWh (0.8 Mtoe) renewable energy contribution to final energy consumption by 2013, to be produced mainly from biomass, wind, solar and small scale hydro. The renewable energy sources will be utilized for power generation and non-electric technologies such as solar water heating and biofuels.

The White Paper states that there will be mid-term evaluation, after five years, to see if the targets, objectives and deliverables are being achieved (White Paper on Renewable Energy, 2003). The purpose of the summit is to evaluate the 10 000 GWh.

Summit theme

Towards a sustainable renewable energy sector.

Summit objectives

• To review the 2003 White Paper on Renewable Energy
• To evaluate progress made in the first half of the target period and to access the applicability or relevance of the target in the current period
• To open the debate around the challenges that the renewable energy sector is facing,
• To identify actions, plans and programmes that should be implemented in order to ensure the achievement of the target by 2013, and
• To agree on a plan of action that will be followed beyond 2013.

Focus of the Summit

The Summit will focus on the policy and regulatory framework and renewable energy potential in respect of:

• Renewable energy policy and regulatory framework
• Renewable energy financial mechanisms
• Non-grid and biofuels
• Grid and non-grid based renewable energy technologies
• Government and institutional arrangements and
• Research and development on renewable energy technologies.


Expected outcomes of the summit

The aim of the summit is to review progress made to date and whether policy direction should change or remain the same.

It also has to identify challenges in the implementation of the White Paper and develop renewable energy technologies, as well as come up with ways and means to address these challenges.

Another expected outcome is to come up with a strategy that needs to be implemented in order to achieve the target. The last expected outcome is to propose a post- Summit action plan beyond 2013.

The Summit partners

The Summit partners will be key major stakeholders who have an interest in the subject matter and outcomes of the Summit.


The partners are:
• National Energy Regulator of South Africa
• Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
• Council for Mineral Technology
• South African Bureau of Standards
• EDI Holdings
• ESKOM
• Department of Public Enterprises
• Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
• Department of Science and Technology
• Department of Trade and Industry
• Congress of South African Trade Unions
• National Union of Mineworkers
• Non- governmental organisations
• Central Energy Fund
• World Bank
• National Energy Regulator of South Africa
• Council for Scientific and Industrial Research


Speeches

View the speeches by the Minister and Director General.


 

 




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