|
Related Topics |
|
Ever wondered just how much coal ESKOM burns in a year to generate electricity? In this article we take a look at the amount of coal burnt by ESKOM to keep power stations running and generate electricity required to keep the lights on in South Africa.
|
Power pylons
|
Dirty messy power..
The line chart below shows the amount of coal burnt per year by ESKOM to generate electricity. And sadly for South Africans and the environment ESKOM has been slow to lower its dependence on dirty energy generation methods such as coal fired power stations and move over to environmentally friendly power generation methods such as solar, wind and hydro power.
As can be seen from the line chart above, ESKOM is still burning more coal now than they did in 2006. Thus over the last 12 years there has been no real attempt by ESKOM to reduce their dependence on heavy polluting coal power and switch over to to cleaner and renewable energy sources. ESKOM had 12 years to change their power supply mix to include more renewable and cleaner energy source into their power supply mix and to add more of these cleaner sources onto the ESKOM grid. It is a worry that ESKOM is so slow to add renewable and cleaner energy sources into their energy mix, especially considering the greater focus by companies and governments the world over to reduce their emissions in order to slow the speed of global warming. Below a short summary of the amount of coal (in tonnes) ESKOM used to generate power over the last 12 years:
- 2006: 112 100 000
- 2007: 119 100 000
- 2008: 125 300 000
- 2009: 121 200 000
- 2010: 122 700 000
- 2011: 124 700 000
- 2012: 125 200 000
- 2013: 123 000 000
- 2014: 122 400 000
- 2015: 119 200 000
- 2016: 114 800 000
- 2017: 113 700 000
Trucks driving in a coal mine pit
Not only is ESKOM slow to move from dirty energy generation to cleaner and renewable energy sources, they have decided to build two more coal fired power stations (Madupi and Khusile). Both have been dogged by cost over runs and delays in coming online and strikes and a whole host of other issues. In addition to this, ESKOM burns large amounts of diesel and other liquid fuels. Especially when coal stock supplies are running low, or stops due to industrial action or inclimate weather causing coal to get wet and this sludge cannot be used in coal fired power stations.
Below a line chart showing the amount of liquid fuels being used in the generation of electricity in South Africa. And readers will note it is extremely volatile and shows large spikes and significant drops over the years, as the need and demand for liquid fuels to be used in the production of electricity ebs and flows
Below a line chart showing the amount of liquid fuels being used in the generation of electricity in South Africa. And readers will note it is extremely volatile and shows large spikes and significant drops over the years, as the need and demand for liquid fuels to be used in the production of electricity ebs and flows
Big question is when will ESKOM allow independent power producers (especially those generating cleaner power) to provide more power to the grid to reduce ESKOM and South Africa's contribution to green house gas emissions