Customary land governance and renewable energy integration: Evidence from the Eastern Seaboard smart city project

Lindiwe Ngcobo, Silas K. Mulaudzi, David Phaho

34 Downloads 63 Views

Abstract

South Africa’s transition to low carbon economy requires renewable energy solutions that are responsive to technical, infrastructural, economical and socio institutional realities. This study evaluates the potential for RE integration within the proposed Eastern Seaboard Smart City (ESSC), focusing on the Ray Nkonyeni and King Sabata Dalindyebo local municipalities. A convergent mixed methods case study design was adopted, integrating semi structured interviews with 14 energy sector experts, electricity expenditure data from 36 small businesses, and scenario modelling. Qualitative data were analysed thematically, while descriptive statistics were employed to establish electricity expenditure baseline. Scenario analysis was used to estimate renewable generation, avoided emissions and the gross value of displaced grid electricity. The scenarios evaluated comprised a 138MW wind farm, a 54MW solar plant and a hybrid wind-solar configuration supported by battery energy storage. Assuming capacity factors of 35% for wind and 26% for solar, the modelling indicates annual generation of approximately 423 108 MWh from wind, 122 990 MWh from solar PV and 546 098 MWh from the hybrid configuration. Corresponding annual avoided grid-based emissions are estimated at approximately 398 568, 115 857 and 514 425 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), respectively. Qualitative findings revealed that RE integration is constrained by inadequate grid infrastructure, financing requirements, regulatory uncertainty, institutional fragmentation and complexities associated with customary land governance. The study concludes that RE deployment in the ESSC should be approached as a social institutional process, requiring coordinated infrastructure planning, regulatory clarity and meaningful engagement with traditional authorities and local communities.

Keywords
renewable energy integration, customary land governance, traditional leadership, smart city sustainability