In my previous blog I mentioned that South Africa (and the rest of the world) need to rethink its dependency on fossil fuels, especially considering urbanisation.  By 2030, Africa will have 760 million urban residents, according to this Green Business Guide article. This number increases by the day, and metropolitan areas need to adapt more quickly than ever before, as cities account for two thirds of the global energy demand.

 

Currently, South Africa’s urban population stands at 62% of our total population.  The rate of urbanization is an estimated 1.2% annually (2010-15 est.). The grid is definitely feeling the pressure and it’s not only South African citizens who are trying to save where they can, but the big players as well...

Since the beginning of the year, South Africans were asked to save 10% on their electricity usage. If we all save our 10%, the mining, agricultural and manufacturing sectors, which drive growth in South Africa, are spared from unexpected outages. Energy-saving measures, such as rebates offered on solar water heaters and the 49M initiative, were implemented to avoid the loadshedding catastrophe of 2008, which cost our country R50billion in lost output.  

The days are getting shorter, and the early morning air is slightly chillier than a couple of weeks ago. As we are slowly approaching the colder months, we should be aware of what might happen to our energy supply when the demand increases.

The Australian Government together with its state and territory governments are in the process of phasing out electric hot water systems.

This progressive action by the Australian government is precisely what is required of the South African government. Such a decision would stimulate the South African solar water heating industry, would create literally thousands of jobs, especially for the unskilled and unemployed, and will automatically reduce pressure on the grid.  Load shedding could be largely avoided. Considering that electric water heaters account for about a quarter of the average household’s energy use, this initiative will not only benefit the homeowner, but also our country and other key stakeholders like the insurance industry. 

On Monday evening Eskom's spokesperson Hilary Joffe made an announcement that there is a high risk of rolling blackouts across South Africa. The power utility is, as we all know, under immense strain to keep the lights on.
It’s been four years since the January 2008 load-shedding crisis and we are still facing the same problems.

This is a highly contested question. I mentioned in my previous blog that a constant battle rages online with regards to renewable energy and the most viable energy solution for South Africa. Those who are campaigning for renewable energy are always confronted with the same important question: Will renewables be able to provide baseload power?

Baseload power runs continuously and supplies dependable power outputs to keep the country operating as it should – from the traffic lights regulating our busy roads to the hospitals. South Africa’s baseload is fuelled by coal, the world's most commonly distributed fossil fuel source. With all this in mind, can we rely on the sun, wind, water and biofuels to provide us with the energy we need?

According to ‘The potential for renewable energy to provide baseload power in Australia’, a research paper by Stewart Needham, the technology to generate reliable and continuous...

South Africans tend to get hot under the collar when discussing the future of our energy resources, and rightly so. Just have a look at the environmental opinion pieces and blogs – when there is an argument for renewable energy, the comments overflow with concerns regarding baseload power. When nuclear energy is discussed, everyone gets swept away by wind turbines and solar energy. Medupi and Kusile are also under public scrutiny – these coal-fired beasts are constantly facing an attacked from the eco army, the financial combatants and the nuclear warriors.

Although South Africa is an emerging economy, it is also the continent’s strongest economy. In order for us to pick up the pace on economical and infrastructure development, we need to rely on a constant energy supply. Our mining industries cannot afford to go through the load shedding crisis of 2008 again.

Our energy woes aren’t limited to the borders of South Africa. Eskom also has bilateral energy trade agreements with numerous utilities in the SADC - 45% of Africa’s electricity is provided by Eskom.

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Although the Eskom rebate system underwent a couple of changes to its structure, it still inspired and motivated South Africans to switch to solar water heaters (SWH). If a homeowner decides to invest in a solar water heater (that has been approved by the SABS), they’ll receive a handsome rebate from Eskom to help with the initial investment.

Now Eskom is proposing to release rebates for low-pressure SWHs only through a tender system. This model proposes competitive bidding (or contractual) procurement of low-pressure solar water heaters. The system, as it operates currently, already provided 200 000 solar water heaters to South Africans. However, to reach their target...

Business Day reports that the Department of Energy is experiencing a couple of ‘snags’ en route to meeting their target of installing 1 million solar geysers by 2014. According to the Department of Energy, these nasty culprits are “…shoddy installations, high capital costs of the heaters, and programme financing.”

Now, let’s rewind to an article published on Kgwanyape Energy Solutions’ website from the vaults of 2008. The first quarter of 2008 saw great interest in the abovementioned mass deployment of solar water heaters. Problems and obstacles were identified and the Eskom rebate initiative was implemented. At the end of 2007, City Power MD Silas Zimu stated courageously that City Power is planning to install SWHs in all households in Johannesburg before 2010.

In the same article, Eskom renewable...

Musician and songwriter Bob Dylan, captured the spirit of the 60’s with the title track of his famous album, ‘The Times They Are a-Changin’. The album was released in 1964, during a time when social and political upheaval characterised the American landscape.

Almost 50 years later, society is up in arms again. But this time they’re fighting for the ecological future of the earth. And just as in the 60’s, the protests are characterised by social concerns and the political by-products of the decision makers.

Up in arms

There is nothing like stopping peak-hour traffic on a Monday morning to get your message across. Greenpeace South Africa dumped three trucks of coal in front of Eskom’s headquarters, in response to what they call ‘Eskom’s addiction to coal’. (A staggering 90% of South Africa’s electricity comes from coal.) This demonstration wasn’t exactly riot-like, but the media...