The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has noted the legal proceedings regarding the interim grid capacity allocation rules (IGCAR) that a member of the association has embarked on in its own and independent capacity, without the Association’s prior knowledge.
As an association advocating for the advancement of the wind energy sector, SAWEA will continue the constructive engagement with all key stakeholders, including the Presidency, NECOM, and Eskom to find solutions that support the construction or expansion of utility-scale wind projects to help solve the country’s energy crisis.
To this end, SAWEA encourages progressive industry discussions with the System Operator regarding the optimisation of the grid including the allocation of grid capacity, in line with the industry’s objective to develop a favourable regulatory environment for the rollout of renewable energy.
For some time, SAWEA has worked constructively with Eskom to improve the process of allocating limited grid capacity in a fair and transparent manner within the regulatory framework.
SAWEA is committed to working with all key stakeholders to accelerate the connection of shovel-ready projects with a view to alleviating the energy crisis. The Association does therefore not support any action that will delay the process to build new generation capacity and bring it online urgently. Further delays in the deployment of new generation capacity will erode economic recovery and growth, investor and OEM confidence, and impact initiatives supported by SAWEA, like SAREM, to build industrial capacity and create jobs.
SAWEA recognises that members have divergent commercial and legal positions related to grid capacity, and it is beyond SAWEA’s mandate to comment on the legal proceedings at this time.
