Notwithstanding recent and continued advances in the roll-out of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, South African National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi) GM for cleaner fossil fuel use Professor Tony Surridge expects coal to continue to form a significant component of South Africa’s energy generation mix.

Although the recently released draft Integrated Resource Plan 2018 indicated a gradual decrease in coal-based electricity generation, he told delegates at the Fossil Fuel Foundation’s Clean Coal Technology conference last week that the installed coal-fired capacity in 2030 was expected to be about 46%.

Therefore, as a transition measure, Surridge pointed out that carbon capture and storage continued to be developed as one of the National Flagship Programmes of the National Climate Change Response White Paper.

South Africa, as a coal-based energy economy, is committed to trying to decrease climate change impacts as a result of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. To achieve this, Surridge told Mining Weekly, the country had placed its focus on energy efficiency and renewable energies.

Another alternative, Surridge highlighted, was to capture the CO_{2 and to use or store it.}

“If we want to capture the carbon dioxide, we should then clean it, compress it and put it into a very appropriate geological formation, which is usually between 1 km and 2 km deep,” he explained.

Meanwhile, in partnership with its stakeholders, Sanedi is scheduled to characterise a site for the pilot CO_{2 storage project during 2019.}

As at November 10, the World Bank, as custodian of the Carbon Trust Fund, had made available $23-million in support of the pilot project.

Surridge, however, told delegates that a recently completed CO₂ utilisation study indicated a number of options for the use of CO_{2 in South Africa.}

A significant finding with regard to the study, he added, was the requirement for the generation of hydrogen and, in particular, the use of renewable energy. One of the options was the mineralisation of CO_{2, which was currently being further investigated in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.}