Renewable Energy makes economic sense
U.S. Consulate Cape Town took a team of journalists on an innovative “Green Media Tour” to four provinces across South Africa to learn about U.S. investments in the country’s renewable energy sector.
Staff from @USEmbassySA Pretoria, Power Africa, Economics and Public Affairs sections, Foreign Commercial Service, and IIP speaker and veteran American journalist, Tom Yulsman, joined the group at various points to provide subject matter expertise. The program formed part of the U.S. Mission to South Africa’s #Energy21 Campaign, a campaign to highlight the U.S. — South Africa partnership in combatting climate change and promoting awareness among all South Africans about efforts to increase the use of renewable energy.
The tour produced extensive media coverage with over twenty stories published in national and regional media outlets, including radio, television, online publications, and new data and app journalism platforms. News coverage showcased the United States as a strategic partner for renewable energy in South Africa and created interest among key media outlets in covering the ability of South Africa’s renewable energy sector to create jobs and boost economic security.
Over five days, between June 26 to July 1, journalists traveled to four different provinces to visit some of the biggest and most exciting U.S.-funded renewable energy projects in South Africa.
Solar Power
The tour started in Kathu, Northern Cape where the media reported on American company and Power Africa SolarReserve’s two operating photovoltaic (PV) plants and learned about the development of sub-Saharan Africa’s first concentrated solar thermal (CSP) power project, the SolarReserve Redstone Project. This 100 MW CSP plant is funded by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and will be able to generate electricity after sunset due to its molten salt energy storage system. Construction starts on this plant by September 2016. In their coverage of the plant, media outlets like CNBC Africa and national radio stations focused on how this U.S. renewable energy initiative was powering nearly 200, 000 homes in South Africa through the national grid and how local communities further benefit through the company’s outreach programs.
Research
On their second day, journalists stopped in Pretoria to visit South Africa’s Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) and learned about the power of renewable energy as a potential solution for the country’s energy and high unemployment. Following the briefing with CSIR, IIP speaker Tom Yulsman told the journalists, “The idea that you could power the whole country with mostly renewables — and at no cost premium over coal — was a real eye-opener to me…. The take away so far of this whole trip for me is that renewables are ready to stand on their own two feet as affordable and valuable sources — subsidies are no longer needed. And that South Africa is actually playing a leading role in the world. I did not know that. And I think it is really cool…. I’m curious to hear what resonates for others.”
Want to invest
In Johannesburg, PAS facilitated a press conference that enabled journalists to hear from Economic Counselor Laird Treiber and Mike Calvert from the Foreign Commercial Service, who discussed how renewable energy projects can help diversify energy sources and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. South Africa’s biggest broadcaster, SABC, carried interviews with both, conveying key messages about how “The U.S. has invested numerous energy projects across South Africa, which they say contributes tremendously to the country’s economy. With some of the best wind and solar conditions around the globe, South Africa is fast becoming one of the key producers of renewable energy.”
Innovative East London
Moving to East London in the Eastern Cape, the journalists met with IVLP alumnus Chris Ettmayr who talked about the East London Industrial Development Zone’s new partnership with USAID, the Low Emissions Development Program, to reduce emissions at the industrial park. Ettmayr discussed how South African partners are working with the United States to reduce the country’s carbon footprint, and detailed the industrial park’s plans to become solely reliable on renewable energy. Ettmayr also took the Green Media Tour group to Adventure Power, part of the U.S. Venture Group, where journalists saw how wind turbines were made and how this industry ties to job creation in the area.
Wind Power
The Green Media Tour ended in the Western Cape with a visit to the BioTherm Energy Dassiesklip Wind Farm near Caledon, a town located two hours outside of Cape Town. BioTherm Energy is a South African company wholly owned and funded by Denham Capital, a U.S. private equity firm, both of which are also Power Africa partners. Journalists saw the magnitude of the 26.9 MW facility, which generates 88 GWh annually. In its follow-up coverage of the visit, EE Publishers, leaders in journalism within the energy sector, highlighted Biotherm’s partnership with the Meta Economic Development Organization (MEDO), which also runs a Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program.
Economic Sense
Members of the media finished their tour by meeting with Cape Town Consul General Teddy B. Taylor to share what they had learned during the week. Several said that a highlight of the program was the ability to gain access to these companies and renewable energy projects, which rarely open their doors to the media. One journalist expressed the realization that focusing on renewable energy was no longer just a “moral thing to do to combat climate change” but something that “made economic sense.” Several also expressed interest in knowing overall figures for the number of U.S. companies investing in renewable energy South Africa.
