# The latent super power in our energy grids | Clyde Mallinson | TEDxJohannesburg Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwmBK4hcTMU Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/SwmBK4hcTMU Generated: 2025-12-12T17:15:19.829+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The speaker argues that South Africa's future energy security lies in embracing renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, which, when combined with battery storage, can provide reliable, affordable, and clean power, effectively overcoming the limitations of the current coal-heavy system and creating new economic opportunities. **Key Points:** - The speaker cites an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) suggesting that by 2025, South Africa will still rely on about 26 GW of coal, which is not fit for the future. - Fossil energy costs in 2050 are estimated globally at nearly $75 trillion (including energy, health, and climate costs), compared to under $10 trillion for renewable energy. - South Africa currently generates 80% of its electricity from coal, a situation the speaker calls unjust, especially considering the country has abundant sunshine (three times that of the Netherlands, which has more installed solar). - The 2040 government plan relies heavily on a large base of coal (around 25 GW) supplemented by solar, wind, and pumped storage, suggesting they still anticipate significant reliance on coal. - The speaker advocates for a system where the surplus renewable energy generated during the day (the 'super power' peak, shown on the 2040 primary school children's model) is stored in batteries or converted to green hydrogen for use during the night. - The transition to renewables, if managed correctly, will create three times as many jobs as are lost in the coal sector, provided there is investment in new clean industries and carbon border adjustment taxes are used to support this shift. ![Screenshot at 10:55: The speaker displays a slide titled '2040 primary school children plan' which illustrates a power generation mix heavily reliant on solar \(yellow area\) during the day, creating a significant surplus \('SUPER POWER' circled\) that can be stored, contrasting sharply with the government's 2040 plan.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/SwmBK4hcTMU/00-10-55.png) **Context:** Clyde Mallinson presents at TEDxJohannesburg, focusing on South Africa's energy transition challenges and opportunities. He uses data comparing the projected costs of fossil fuels versus renewable energy by 2050, and contrasts official 2040 energy plans with a model developed by primary school children, emphasizing the need for a balanced, clean, reliable, and affordable energy future. ## Detailed Analysis Clyde Mallinson argues that South Africa must urgently pivot its energy strategy away from coal reliance, as evidenced by global cost projections showing fossil fuels costing nearly $75 trillion by 2050 compared to under $10 trillion for renewables, when factoring in health and climate externalities. He points out that South Africa’s current 80% coal reliance is unsustainable and unjust, given the country's vast renewable potential, particularly solar. Mallinson critiques the official 2040 government energy plan (shown on screen) for still heavily featuring coal and pumped storage to cover nighttime demand peaks, while neglecting the potential of daytime solar surplus. He contrasts this with a more ambitious model designed by primary school children which shows how this midday solar surplus (termed 'super power') can be stored (in batteries or converted to green hydrogen) to meet evening demand, thus eliminating the need for coal entirely. Mallinson stresses that this transition is not just about avoiding climate disaster but also about economic opportunity, predicting that the renewable transition can create three times the jobs lost in the coal sector, provided South Africa implements policies like carbon border taxes to support domestic clean industries. ### Energy Cost Comparison (2050 Global) - Fossil Energy total costs approach $75 Trillion (Energy + Health + Climate) - Renewable Energy costs remain under $10 Trillion - Fossil energy wastes two-thirds of its energy. ### South Africa's Current State - 80% of electricity sourced from coal - 26 GW of coal planned for 2025 - South Africans live in energy poverty, forcing daily choices between food and electricity. ### 2040 Government Plan - Shows significant reliance on coal base (approx. 25 GW) with solar/wind/pumped storage layered on top, indicating a failure to fully embrace renewables. ### The Children's Model (The Super Power) - Shows massive solar surplus (yellow area) during midday hours, highlighting the potential for storage and export (e.g., green hydrogen to Europe). ### The Solution - Embrace the 'super power' surplus by using it for storage or powering new clean industries, thus eliminating the need for coal and avoiding job losses associated with mine closures. ![Screenshot at 00:04: Countdown screen for the TEDxJohannesburg event.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/SwmBK4hcTMU/00-00-04.png) ![Screenshot at 02:26: Speaker gesturing while the screen displays the 'Super Power' concept, illustrating high renewable energy generation potential.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/SwmBK4hcTMU/00-02-26.png) ![Screenshot at 04:38: A bar chart comparing estimated global 2050 energy costs for Fossil Energy versus Renewable Energy, highlighting massive external costs for fossil fuels.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/SwmBK4hcTMU/00-04-38.png) ![Screenshot at 07:08: A black and white photo displayed showing informal housing near large coal power plant cooling towers, illustrating energy poverty juxtaposed with coal generation.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/SwmBK4hcTMU/00-07-08.png) ![Screenshot at 10:55: The 2040 government plan energy mix chart, showing significant planned reliance on coal \(dark lower layers\) and pumped storage.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/SwmBK4hcTMU/00-10-55.png)