By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Sat, 2009-02-07 13:57
The use of mobile telephony is growing very fast in Africa. Often someone in a neighbourhood or village will have a mobile phone, but what happens if there is no electricity to charge the phones? A travelling power socket offers a solution!
Research demonstrates that the use of mobile telephony is contributing to the social and economic development of African people. Owners of mobile phones buy minutes in bulk which they sell at a small profit. Places which never had a public phone booth can now connect to the world.
Because of the lack of electricity, South African Bram van Reenen found a solution to charging phones. He travels from village to village in a cart, charging phones with solar energy. The cart is covered with solar panels.
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By Fernando Nuno / Published on Thu, 2009-02-05 19:13
Support for renewables is becoming a worldwide trend.
Thanks to our partner REEGLE, we have learned that South Africa is willing to introduce a Feed-In Tariff scheme. It is proposed that by 2010, the amount of electricity produced from renewable energy technologies shall be no less than 10%, reaching 20% by 2020, a standard figure around the world (EU, Australia, etc.). Eligible technologies and plants would be small hydropower <10 MW, solar pv; solar csp, wind, wave and tidal.
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By Angelo Baggini / Published on Tue, 2009-01-13 10:00
Year: 2008
Policy Status: In force
The South African government's vision, strategic direction and framework for climate policy was announced on 28 July 2008.
The strategy follows two and a half years of work involving stakeholders from government, business, civil society and labour. It is based on findings and policy recommendations stemming from the South African government's long-term mitigation scenario (LTMS) process on climate change, launched in 2006. The LTMS presented three strategic options to deviate from business-as-usual greenhouse gas emissions trajectories, which the current vision, strategic direction and framework aim to implement.
The government's vision is to limit global temperature increase to 2 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels, through a policy response comprising six themes.
Theme 1: Greenhouse gas emission reductions and limits.
South Africa's emissions trajectory is to follow a growth, plateau and decline trajectory. Emissions are to stop growing at the latest by 2020-25, to stabilise for up to ten years, and then to decline in absolute terms. Climate change mitigation measures are to be informed by, measured and monitored against this trajectory.
Theme 2: Build on, strengthen and/or scale up current initiatives.
- -Current energy efficiency and electricity demand-side management initiatives and interventions are to be scaled-up and reinforced through available regulatory instruments and other appropriate mechanisms, including being made mandatory.
- The government's energy efficiency policies and strategies are to be continuously reviewed and amended to reflect more ambitious national targets aligned with the LTMS.
- The Treasury is to study the introduction of a carbon tax, starting at low levels and escalating to higher levels by 2018-20, while being sensitive to higher and lower tax levels.
Theme 3: Implementing the "Business Unusual" Call for Action.
Key sectors are identified as "business unusual" sectors, with specific actions and measures to be taken.
- The renewable energy sector has been identified as a key "business unusual" growth sector and policies and measures are to be put in place to meet a more ambitious national target for renewable energy.
- The transport sector has also been identified as another key "business unusual" growth sector and policies and measures are to be put in place to meet ambitious and mandatory national targets for the reduction of GHG emissions from this sector.
- The government is to promote the transition to a low-carbon economy and society, with all policy and other decisions that may have an impact on South Africa's greenhouse gas emissions taking this commitment into account.
Theme 4: Preparing for the future.
- Increasing support for new and ambitious research and development targets being set, especially in the field of carbon-friendly technologies - with the focus on the renewable energy and transport sectors.
- Using both formal and informal forms of education and outreach to encourage the behavioural changes required to support efficient and effective implementation of the climate change response policy.
Theme 5: Vulnerability and Adaptation
- Continue to identify and describe South Africa's vulnerability to climate change, to prioritise adaptation interventions, while identifying who is to drive them and how they are to be monitored. Affected government departments are to ensure that adaptation to climate change in their sectors are included as departmental key performance areas.
- The government is to pro-actively build on the knowledge base and capacity to adapt to climate change, including by enhancing early warning and disaster reduction systems, and in the provision of various services.
Theme 6: Alignment, Coordination and Cooperation
- The roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders, particularly the organs of state in all three spheres of government, will be clearly defined and articulated.
- The structures required to ensure alignment, coordination and cooperation, will be clearly defined and articulated.
- Climate change response policies and measures are to be mainstreamed within existing alignment, coordination and cooperation structures.
The process of developing and implementing the National Climate Change Response Policy is to be complete by 2012. The first milestone will be the adoption of a framework at a national summit in February 2009, after which sectoral policy development and international negotiating positions are to be developed. The policy is to be amended in 2010 following the conclusion of international commitments, and the final policy adopted at the end of 2010 following a Green Paper consultation process. The policy is to be translated into a legislative, regulatory and fiscal package from now up to 2012.
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By Angelo Baggini / Published on Mon, 2009-01-12 10:00
Year: 2007
Policy Status: In force
Eskom launched an
Energy Efficient Motors Programme in mid-2007.
The programme promotes the replacement of old,
inefficient motors with new, highly-efficient motors, through
subsidising the purchase cost.
Efficient motor suppliers registered with Eskom are directly paid the subsidy, resulting in an
immediate discount off the purchase price for the consumer. The subsidy aims to
smooth out the price difference between standard and high-efficiency motors. The purchaser must trade in their old motor, along with all components, for scrapping.
Subsidies are offered for 3 phase TEFC general purpose 4- and 2-pole induction motors ranging from
1.1 kW to 90 kW, meeting
Eff 1 standards (premium efficiency).
Motor efficiency ratings are based on European Union efficiency definitions, with Eff 1 being the most efficient, and Eff 3 being a standard motor. Subsidy amounts range from ZAR 400 to ZAR 3 500 depending on the motor replaced.
For motors to be subsidised, the suppliers must be accredited by Eskom, for the company's financial status and the motors' technical specifications to be verified and approved. Eskom Demand-side Management (DSM) will regularly perform random process compliance audits, while an independent measurement and verification body will verify the megawatt savings achieved by the programme.
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By Angelo Baggini / Published on Fri, 2009-01-09 10:00
Year: 2006
Policy Status: In force
During 2006, the South African national utility
Eskom distributed more than
7 million CFLs to replace incandescent bulbs. Generator of
95% of South Africa's electricity, Eskom initially procured 300,000 CFLs for free distribution near Johannesburg to test the feasibility, cost-of-distribution and actual load reductions of the measure.
Encouraged by the energy savings, the utility procured a further 2.7 million CFLs for distribution to low-cost housing areas in South Africa. These areas were identified by the Network Planning Department as areas with existing or impending capacity problems, and the distribution is still being carried out by various ESCOs in the country, with the help of unemployed local residents.
To address the rolling black-outs disrupting Cape Town during 2006, Eskom is sourcing an additional 5 million CFLs for distribution in the Western Cape area. Approximately 50% will be distributed on the same basis as the 3-million project referred to above, and the remaining 50% will be offered to middle-and-high income consumers, through traditional retail outlets, but at a greatly reduced (i.e. subsidised) price. Normal retail prices at present are about USD 1.40 and the subsidised price will probably be around USD 0.80 cents.
Eskom is wholly owned by the
South African government.
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By Angelo Baggini / Published on Thu, 2009-01-08 10:00
Year: 2005
Policy Status: In force
In May 2005, following the Government's Energy Efficiency Strategy, a list of commitments was negotiated between both industry and government.
The Minister for Energy and Minerals, together with the CEOs from 24 major energy users and seven industry associations, signed the Energy Efficiency Accord, voluntarily committing themselves to individually and collaboratively work to implement the government target for energy savings.
Within a framework of eight strategic goals based on the three cornerstones of sustainability, the strategy targets a 15% reduction in final energy demand for the industrial sector by 2015, and a 12% improvement in energy efficiency for the country as a whole by the same date. This target is expressed as a percentage reduction against the projected national energy usage in 2015.
Industry agrees to:
- Promote the development of sector specific strategies and targets that contribute to the achievement of the overall energy efficiency
- Promote the use of Demand Side Management contracts concluded with energy suppliers
- Develop common reporting requirements for energy usage from all energy sources
- Define industry-specific projected energy use in the future, based on Business-asusual (BAU) growth expectations
- Use 2000 as the baseline year against which performance will be measured
- Establish methodologies allowing for the baseline quantification for energy use/intensity various sub sectors, and to take into account the need to measure specific energy intensity rather than absolute energy use in order to promote industrial growth whilst achieving energy efficiency and recognising the energy conservation measures already in use in some sub sectors
- Establish methodologies to take into account increased production, for the pursuit of improved energy efficiency not to hamper industrial growth
- Develop a generic energy auditing protocol that can be adapted for use by the individual sector and company signatories
- Where appropriate, exploit opportunities presented by energy efficiency projects to develop CDM projects
The commitment was reinforced when seven more leaders from companies and business associations joined the initiative and signed the agreement in 2006, with three more signatories joining in 2007.
An Energy Efficiency Technical Committee (EETC) was established to implement the Accord, and the National Business Initiative (NBI) acts as Secretariat to the Technical Committee.
It has developed measurement and verification guidelines, executive guides, an energy management performance matrix, reporting guidelines, and has conducted case studies.
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By Angelo Baggini / Published on Wed, 2009-01-07 10:00
Year: 2005
Policy Status: In force
The Energy Efficiency Strategy of South Africa was approved by cabinet in March 2005 and takes its mandate from the White Paper on Energy Policy, published in 1998.
The strategy links energy sector development with national socio-economic development plans and sets the target for improved energy efficiency in South Africa at 12% by 2015. This target is expressed in relation to the forecasted national energy demand at that time.
The strategy:
- provides guidelines for the implementation of efficient practices within the economy, including the setting of governance structures for activity development, promotion and coordination;
- allows for the immediate implementation of low-cost and no-cost interventions, as well as higher-cost measures with short payback periods;
- acknowledges that there exists significant potential for energy efficiency improvements across all sectors of the national economy;
- acknowledges that energy efficiency will be largely achieved via enabling instruments and interventions, including economic and legislative means, efficiency labels and performance standards, energy management activities and energy audits, and the promotion of efficient practices.
The strategy covers all sectors and is being implemented through Sectoral Implementation Plans.
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Mon, 2007-10-22 11:34
Via The Empire Collective, Eskom's advertisement to reduce unnecessary electricity consumption.
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Mon, 2007-05-07 20:35
By Walter Hulshorst, Erik Smeets, Hans Wolse, KEMA
This report discusses some of the power quality contracts and classification systems used by distribution companies. It shows the different contracts used around the world by some groups of customers and utilities. It also covers the role of the regulator when allowing the market to agree on premium power quality contracts.
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By Hans Nilsson / Published on Fri, 2007-03-23 08:00
South Africa (SA) is heavily dependent on coal for its energy supply and is struggling with a demand that grows very fast as well as a need that is considerably bigger. Too many people do not have adequate access to energy supply that allows them to live a life using even basic goods that we associate with a modern society.
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