โ Scribed by Dieter Holm
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
While South Africa has abundant renewable resources, it is still reliant on finite and polluting local coal and imported oil. The case for a concerted move to sustainable development through renewable energies is compelling. The recent blackouts caused major economic setbacks in the region, creating a renewed awareness of energy efficiency and renewable energies -comparable to the panic during the 1970s. Prior government energy modelling underestimated and neglected renewable energies, in part because of short planning horizons. More balanced long-term scenarios were developed by civil society, showing 50% renewable energy power by 2050 to be realistic and in line with international imperatives and current EU actions. Currently renewable energy provides hydropower (642 MW), biomass (20 MW) and wind (23 MW). Renewables are already the most cost-effective strategy for most decentralised rural energisation. At present the residential sector alone is responsible for 35% of the peak demand crisis, and its share is growing. Solar water heating can realistically displace 43,000 GWh/a by 2021. If only 5% of on-grid households installed a 2kW PV system, this could contribute 800MW, generating 1,300 GWh/a. Both technologies are applicable at point of use, with considerable savings in distribution infrastructure.
๐ SIMILAR VOLUMES
Renewable energy usage in Africa has been reviewed using South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Mali as case studies. The various national energy policies of these countries were analysed and areas that require attention to achieve sustainability were highlighted. On the overall, the success of sustainabl