- The global shift towards renewable energy is accelerating, and South Africa is no exception.
- With ambitious targets for decarbonisation and a pressing need for reliable energy solutions, the launch of Wärtsilä’s next-generation 46TS engine presents a significant opportunity to bolster the country’s energy transition.
The South African Energy Landscape: A Balancing Act
South Africa’s energy sector is undergoing a profound transformation. The government has set a target to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and the Integrated Resource Plan (Draft IRP 2024) aims to decommission a major portion of the coal-fired power plants while increasing the share of renewable energy sources. However, as Eskom and industry players have highlighted, intermittent power from wind and solar requires complementary flexible generation solutions to ensure grid stability.
Wärtsilä 46TS: A Game-Changer for South Africa’s Power Grid
The Wärtsilä 46TS engine is designed to meet this challenge by providing a highly efficient and flexible power generation solution that supports renewable energy integration. It can operate on future sustainable fuels, making it a long-term asset in South Africa’s evolving energy mix.
Key benefits of the Wärtsilä 46TS engine relevant to South Africa include:
- Exceptional Efficiency: The engine offers over 51% efficiency with high efficiency at part load reducing fuel consumption and emissions. This is particularly valuable as South Africa works to lower its carbon footprint while addressing energy affordability.
- High Power Output: With a capacity of 23.4 MW per unit, fewer engines are required to build large-scale power plants in the 50MW-500 MW range, optimizing land use and reducing capital investment.
- Fast Ramp-Up Time: The ability to start up in just two minutes ensures that power can be quickly dispatched during periods of low renewable generation and grid instability or base load when needed.
- Extreme Condition Performance: South Africa’s diverse climate, from the hot Lowveld to the high-altitude escarpment, requires resilient energy solutions. The 46TS engine is engineered for optimal performance in such demanding environments.
Economic and Environmental Impact: The Case for Flexible Power
A recent Wärtsilä study, Crossroads to Net Zero, revealed that using balancing engines alongside renewables could result in cumulative global savings of EUR 65 trillion by 2050 compared to a renewables-only pathway. In the South African context, flexible power solutions could significantly reduce the reliance on expensive diesel peaking plants and mitigate the impact of load shedding.
South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) has already proven the potential of renewables, but the grid still requires flexible capacity. The Wärtsilä 46TS engine could serve as a key enabler, ensuring a reliable and cost-effective energy transition.
The Future of Power Generation in South Africa
The first deployment of the Wärtsilä 46TS engine in Kazakhstan demonstrates its real-world viability. With its availability from 2025, South Africa has an opportunity to incorporate this technology into its next round of power procurement initiatives. By doing so, the country can accelerate its journey toward a resilient, sustainable, and affordable energy future.
As South Africa navigates its energy crossroads, solutions like the Wärtsilä 46TS engine provide a practical pathway to balance renewables, secure energy supply, and drive economic growth. Now is the time for policymakers, utilities, and investors to embrace flexible power generation as an essential pillar of the country’s energy strategy.
Wärtsilä Energy is at the forefront of the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers and the power sector to accelerate their decarbonisation journeys through our market-leading technologies and power system expertise. Our solutions include flexible engine power plants, energy storage and optimisation technology, and services for the whole lifecycle of our installations. Our engines are future-proof and can run on sustainable fuels. Our track record comprises of 79 GW delivered power plant capacity and over 130 energy storage systems in 180 countries around the world. Over 30% of our operating installed base is under service agreements.
Author: Tord Johnsson – General Manager Strategic Relations and Business, Africa at Wärtsilä Energy
