Energy Minister Dipuo Peters was confident that South Africa would reach the target of producing 10 000 GWh of renewable energy by 2013, as set out in the renewable energy white paper of 2003.

The target was said to represent about 4% of South Africa's total generation capacity.

"We may, in view of the rate at which we are proceeding, surpass this target," said Peters, adding that she has taken up the issue of renewable energy with "greater vigour" since she has taken the helm at the Department of Energy (DoE).

Peters was responding to an article published in the Mail & Guardian (M&G) newspaper, entitled ‘wind power waiting in the wings', which followed a business breakfast addressed by Mainstream Renewable Power CEO Eddie O'Connor.

According to the M&G article, O'Connor spoke out about the role of the Department of Energy's "lack of leadership" in the advancement of renewable energy. He also reportedly said that it had been left to the Department of Public Enterprises to take the lead on this issue.

In a statement released over the weekend, Peters said that she "rejected outright the suggestion by Dr O'Connor, that wind is the only source of energy".

"I reject with the contempt Dr O'Connor's suggestions. We call on all South Africans, and Dr O'Connor in particular, to realise that wind power technology is not the only available renewable energy technology. There are others as well. We cannot elevate wind power above or at the expense of, other energy sources," Peters reiterated.

The Minister also stated that the DoE would define its renewable energy targets in the revised White Paper on Renewable Energy, which is currently under development. This would also be reflected in the renewable energy targets that would be released through the Integrated Resource Plan 2010 (IRP 2010) process.

She said that the Department has held numerous public consultation processes with regard to the revision of the renewable energy white paper, and the development of IRP 2010, which will include renewable technology specific engagements.

The department has also published ‘New Generation Capacity Regulations' which define the institutional arrangements within which the procurement of power from independent power producers (IPPs), including those using renewable energy sources would be done.

Once finalised, these regulations would expedite the procurement process for IPPs, as well as ensure that all future electricity plans are streamlined to correspond with the country's position on the eventual primary energy mix as stipulated in African National Congress policy.

"My Department has been active in the areas of the development of wind farms, however, all grid connections in this area have to follow a stipulated procedure wherein project developers apply for licenses to generate power from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa), after which they will apply to Eskom for grid connection. Eskom will look at existing capacity before taking a particular decision on the relevant application," said Peters.