Brown accused of exaggerating renewable energy prices

Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown and the Department of Energy were accused on Tuesday of exaggerating the price of renewable energy to win public support for Eskom’s contested nuclear expansion programme. Brown told Parliament’s portfolio committee on energy the actual current cost of renewable energy was R2.14/kWh, compared to 32c/kWh to generate coal-based power. It meant that Eskom was selling renewable electricity at far below cost to the consumer, who paid about 84c/kWh.