Browsing by Author "Eberhard, Anton"
Now showing 1 - 20 of 34
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemOpen AccessThe application of biogas technology in South Africa for small-scale energy production(1994) Thom, Cecile; Eberhard, AntonThis study has aimed to contribute to the development of low-cost or "simple" biogas technology, i.e. the design, construction, operation and utilisation of relatively simple biogas systems in South Africa, and to explore the utilisation of the technology by lower-income groups in the rural areas of the country, particularly in the former homelands. Specific objectives included the development of biogas plants suitable for application in South Africa, and the assessment of the acceptability of the technology among potential users. Five biogas plants were constructed during the study, which provided the opportunity to test various designs and obtain response from some of the potential users of the technology.
- ItemOpen AccessBattery performance characterisation for stand-alone photovoltaic systems(1991) Purcell, C J de V; Eberhard, Anton; Cowan, BillOne of the main factors limiting optimisation of PV system designs over the life of the system has been the lack of battery test data appropriate to PV applications. The main objective of this study was to determine accurate empirical data for locally available lead-acid batteries which could be used in photovoltaic systems and to present this data in a format directly applicable to PV system designers. The study included (i) a review of battery performance regimes typical of PV systems; (ii) a literature review of lead-acid battery performance and reactions important to PV applications, battery electrical models, battery life models, a review of specialist PV battery designs and the interaction of battery and voltage regulator in PV systems;. (iii) a review of testing and research literature, and the design of a suite of experimental procedures suitable for characterising batteries under PV operating regimes; (iv) the design and construction of a specialised battery test-unit to automatically perform tests and capture data; (v) selection, testing and characterisation of five generic types of batteries which could be used in local PV applications. The five types of lead-acid battery were: 1) conventional calcium alloy positive and negative grids, flat plate, flooded electrolyte, vented casing; 2) low antimony alloy positive grid, conventional calcium negative grid, flat plate, flooded electrolyte, vented casing; 3) low antimony alloy positive grid, heat treated calcium negative grid, flat plate, immobilised absorbed electrolyte, sealed casing with 0 2 cycle gas recombination; 4) antimony alloy positive and negative grids, flat plate, flooded electrolyte, vented casing; 5) antimony alloy positive and negative grids, tubular plate, flooded electrolyte, vented casing. Selenium grid alloy cells and gelled electrolyte batteries were not represented amongst the batteries tested, owing to problems of availability or cost.
- ItemOpen AccessCalorific values and combustion characteristics of South Africa grown fuel woods(1988) Eberhard, Anton
- ItemOpen AccessCombustion characteristics of South African grown fuelwoods(1990) Davis, Mark; Eberhard, AntonThe principle objective of this investigation was to establish a methodology to compare and rank fuelwoods. This methodology would allow a wide range of tree species to be compared and ranked according to their combustion properties. Such a comparison would assist in the selection of species for woodlot development. This investigation attempted to examine the combustion kinetics of small samples in an attempt to achieve the stated aim. Initially a literature review was performed. This covered anecdotal information on fuelwood preferences, an overview of wood composition, structure and combustion, and an in depth review of existing work on small sample combustion.
- ItemOpen AccessComputer simulation of stand-alone photovoltaic systems with battery storage(1991) Geerdts, Philip Clifford; Eberhard, AntonThis report describes a computer program which has been developed to simulate accurately the performance of stand alone photovoltaic systems with battery storage on an hourly basis for one simulated year. The program incorporates models of the POA irradiance, the photovoltaic cell · temperature and the battery temperature to simulate the environmental conditions of the system. These require hourly weather data as input. Typical meteorological years, which constitute a suitable form of input weather data, have been generated for those weather stations in Southern Africa which contain sufficient data. The energy flows within the system are simulated using models of the following parameters: photovoltaic module current, regulator efficiency and voltage, battery current and voltage, inverter efficiency, load shed voltage and load current. These models incorporate versatility in the level of modelling complexity (determined typically by the availability of the data used to characterise the components). The various models are encapsulated in modular units to facilitate alteration and updating at a later stage. The program is designed to simulate photovoltaic systems without maximum power point trackers, necessitating the use of interactive curve solving to compute the system operating point at any time. A robust and comprehensive algorithm has been implemented to execute this function. Improved battery modelling has been effected using data and experience acquired from a parallel research project. The program facilitates, with the judicious selection of input weather data, the economical sizing of systems in that it incorporates loss of power probability analysis and offers a high level of modelling precision. The simulation performance of the program compared favourably with that of PVFORM. The system performance estimated by PVFORM was marginally better, which is expected because PVFORM assumes that the system operates with a maximum power point tracker. In the development of the program there has been a focus on creating an effective user interface. This is designed to simplify and speed up program operation, and to present output in a form which is useful and illustrative.
- ItemOpen AccessDefying the odds: Understanding the critical success factors for financing independent powers producers in Zimbabwe(2017) Zunguze, Timisela; Eberhard, Anton; Kruger, WikusBackground: Since the introduction of legislation in Zimbabwe allowing private participation in generation, there has been significant investor interest in financing independent power producers (IPPs). However, this interest has not materialized into actual investment. Of the 29 IPPs licensed by the Zimbabwe Regulatory Authority (ZERA), only seven have reached financial closure and are supplying the grid. This dismal performance in the IPP space is a major concern for policy makers, particularly in light of the persistent power shortages plaguing the country. Stop gap measures such as the imports of power and load shedding are not sustainable and have detrimental effects on economic productivity. Expansion of private power generation is the only viable long term solution. In light of this, it is imperative to understand the factors that contribute towards successfully financing IPPs. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore and identify the critical success factors (CSFs) for financing IPPs in Zimbabwe and specific strategies to improve the implementation of IPPs, to ensure as far as possible, a win-win scenario for all stakeholders. Methodology: This thesis employs a mixed methods approach consisting of a qualitative first phase of expert interviews to identify a core list of success factors, followed by a quantitative second phase, in which a questionnaire survey is used to examine the relative importance and ranking of the factors and to determine whether the ranking of factors varies by stakeholder grouping. Findings: A total of 40 success factors were identified, and 38 of the 40 were rated as critical for financing IPPs in Zimbabwe by stakeholders. The study also revealed that the expected debt paying ability of the project; a transparent and cost reflective tariff framework and upholding of contracts are the most critical factors for all stakeholders. The results indicated that there is low agreement in the the ranking of CSFs between the private sector and public sector. Value: This study provides a valuable reference for all stakeholders that are interested in developing IPPs in Zimbabwe.
- ItemOpen AccessDomestic energy transition in South Africa in the context of rapid urbanization(1989) Viljoen, R P; Eberhard, AntonThis dissertation deals with the energy transition process which is de-fined herein as the process whereby energy consumption patterns o-f fuels used by a population change over time. The focus is on the domestic sector only and specific attention is paid to the black population o-f South Africa which is urbanizing rapidly. The existing data on -fourteen Sub-Saharan African countries are analysed and indications that the energy transition process is occurring are found. The process is influenced by both the level o-f urbanization and economic development but the rates o-f growth of these indicators do not appear to be influential.
- ItemOpen AccessElectrification financing and tariffs: international literature review(1993) Eberhard, Anton; Mountain, Bruce; Pickering, Mark; van Horen, CliveThis report was commissioned by the National Electrification Forum (NELF}. It is a review of international experience in electricity pricing, funding and financial management. The purpose of the report is to assess how these issues have affected electrification programmes in developing countries and to draw conclusions which will assist NELF in establishing appropriate electricity pricing and financing policies for South Africa. A successful electrification programme which enables widened access to electricity is ultimately dependent on the creation and maintenance of a financially viable electricity distribution industry. Financial viability is, in tum, crucially dependent on appropriate pricing and financing policies and financial management practices. The report is based on an extensive review of international literature. The review of electricity pricing commences with a discussion on pricing policies, the principles of economic efficiency and marginal cost-based prices. Some of the difficulties of this approach are highlighted, and additional, often more pressing, pricing objectives are noted, including the imperative of prices which will allow financial viability and prices which will achieve greater equity. Actual practice in developing countries is then examined with regard to tariff levels and structures. Tariff levels are compared with long run marginal costs, generally being much lower in developing countries. The tariff structures discussed include inclining block, single flat rate, two-part, unmetered and time-of-use tariffs. The question of subsidies is raised as well as the problems of implementing equitable life-line tariffs.
- ItemOpen AccessEnergy alternatives for the supply of water in Namaqualand (Progress report)(1990) Eberhard, AntonThe objective of this project is to investigate appropriate water supply alternatives for underdeveloped rural areas with reference to a specific case study of an equivalent diesel and photovoltaic water pumping installation at Rietpoort in Namaqualand .
- ItemOpen AccessEnergy consumption patterns in underdeveloped areas in South Africa(1986) Eberhard, Anton
- ItemOpen AccessEnergy poverty in South Africa: widening access to basic energy services(1993) van Horen, Clive; Afrane-Okese, Yaw; Eberhard, Anton; Trollip, Hilton; Williams, AnthonyThis report contains a description and analysis of the current energy consumption patterns of poor households in South Africa, and proposes a range of policies which can improve significantly the access of the poor to adequate and affordable energy services. It draws on the work of the Energy Policy Research and Training Project, a two-year policy research project involving some twenty person-years of effort, being conducted at the Energy for Development Research Centre (EDRC).
- ItemOpen AccessThe environmental effects of air pollution from the energy sector in South Africa(1992) Gerson, R; Eberhard, Anton; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard KarolThe literature and data describing the environmental effects of air pollution in South Africa were examined, with a focus on the effects that are produced by the use of energy. This examination consisted of three parts: The emissions resulting from the use of the different fuels were calculated, with a complete sectorial and regional breakdown for pollution sources. A review of the data obtained from pollution monitoring programmes conducted in South Africa was completed. It was found that while monitoring is conducted in various regions and urban districts, there are areas with recognised pollution problems, such as townships, where little or no monitoring has been conducted. Often the resulfs of monitoring programmes were not published, or only available in unprocessed form. The literature describing environmental effects related to air pollution was reviewed. The number of studies pertaining to South African environments was found to be limited and tended to focus on certain areas, while neglecting others. Areas requiring further study and research were identified.
- ItemOpen AccessEskom operational efficiency : an investigation of the productivity, financial and technical performance of resources(2003) Mtepa, Msafiri; Eberhard, AntonThere have been major changes in the electricity supply industry in most parts of the world. In South Africa, the government intends to restructure and/or introduce competition in the ESI. The need to reform, to introduce competition and/or to privatise power utilities is primarily aimed at boosting their efficiencies, although other reform drivers such as facilitation of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and mobilisation of private capital should not be neglected. There are, however, conflicting opinions concerning ESI reform and/or privatisation in South Africa. On the one hand, the advocates of power sector reform and privatisation argue that South Africa's existing ESI is not efficient and therefore must be restructured, thereafter competition must be introduced in the industry to boost its efficiency and the quality of its supply. On the other hand, the opponents of reform and competition argue persuasively that the ESI (particularly Eskom) is performing well, because Eskom is currently selling electricity at a lower price than many (if not all) other utilities in the world while nevertheless still earning a profit. As performance improvements ultimately result in lower prices and high quality services, many attribute Eskom's comparatively low prices to an efficient operational performance and are of the opinion that the organisation does not need to be restructured. However, low operational costs do not necessarily imply that all efficiency improvements have been realised and may, in part, be due to factors such as low fuel costs. Furthermore, whilst improvements in operational performance do indeed reduce operating costs, investment efficiency, which has an even longer-term impact, reduces the proportion of capital-related costs in the electricity price. In this regard, the South African government's intention to restructure the ESI should not be mistakenly ascribed to its aim of improving Eskom's operational performance only but rather to its wish to achieve a number of objectives including improved investment efficiency and also attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).
- ItemOpen AccessFarmworker families : towards equitable and adequate energy provision(1994) Hofmeyr, Ilne-Mari; Cowan, Bill; Eberhard, AntonFarmworker families that live and work on commercial farms are amongst the poorest people in South Africa. Poverty is experienced in several dimensions, including low cash income, poor access to services, isolation, intermittent and insecure employment, dependence on employers, and limited social, economic and political power to improve their conditions. This study investigates the worker households' access to and use of energy, in order to identify their domestic energy needs. An evaluation of energy supply, including all fuels used by workers, is undertaken. Guidelines for strategies to improve farmworker households' access to energy services are proposed. The research relied on the analysis of empirical information from both primary and secondary sources and placed this in an integrated energy planning framework. Primary data included a national postal survey of farmers (3000 questionnaires were sent, 575 returned) and interviews with worker families in the West Cape.
- ItemOpen AccessAn integrated rural energy strategy for the Upper Tugela Location, KwaZulu(1988) McClintock, Susan E; Gandar, Mark; Eberhard, AntonA proposal to develop the Upper Tugela Location in KwaZulu, Natal, prompted this study. This study aims to investigate the means to enhance the availability of, and access to, affordable energy sources in the Upper Tugela Location. A further aim is to match appropriate energy sources with the socio-economic conditions prevailing there. The Upper Tugela Location is an ecologically sensitive area of the Upper Tugela catchment. Rural energy planning has been criticized for the development of energy-conversion technologies while there is insufficient understanding of energy procurement practices in rural subsistence economies in South Africa. Qualitative information gained from a questionnaire survey, informal group discussions and direct observations suggest that the inhabitants of the Upper Tugela Location are relatively poor. For this reason a basic rural energy needs approach, which attempts to address the needs of the poorest, has been adopted to provide a theoretical base for the study. Research has revealed the following. Wood is the dominant energy source in the Upper Tugela Location. It is estimated that the annual household consumption of fuelwood is 3000 kg which is below the average fuelwood consumption for a rural area in South Africa. This reflects that this resource is being depleted to the degree that the local inhabitants are supplementing their use of fuelwood with expensive commercial fuels such as coal and paraffin. Locally available wood is in short supply, particularly in densely populated areas of the Upper Tugela Location. Most people are buying fuelwood from Natal farmers living on the borders of the study area. This results in an economic leakage from the Upper Tugela Location and dependence on extralocally available sources of energy. There appear to be few attempts to establish woodlots at present in the Upper Tugela Location. Equitable access to local supplies of wood are curtailed. Renewable sources of energy such as thermal and photovoltaic solar energy, micro-hydro and wind generated power, and afforestation have been investigated as have non-renewable sources of energy such as grid electricity and commercial fuels. It is concluded that no single technical option adequately addresses the energy needs of the inhabitants of the Upper Tugela Location. Most of the renewable sources of energy, except wood, are too expensive for subsistence economies and can be unreliable as they are still at the developmental stage. It is recommended that electricity from the national grid should be made available to those who can afford it. The means to improving the distribution of commercial fuels in the Upper Tugela Location should be addressed. Woody biomass management and agroforestry programmes provide the best options for an energy strategy for the Upper Tugela Location as they are inexpensive, require little maintenance, are sustainable and reliable, and serve conservation requirements at the same time.
- ItemOpen AccessLow cost, small-scale charcoal production in the Western Cape(1990) Clark, John Austin; Eberhard, AntonDomestic grade charcoal with a fixed carbon content of at least 80 was successfully produced from the alien species Acacia Saligna. Carbonisation was effected using a Tongan drum kiln and average yields on a dry basis of 19.1 (excluding fines production) were attained. With fines included, the yield increased to 31.4 . It was shown that the earnings of woodcutters could increase by about 25 if they opted for charcoal production using this technology. Three kilns examined in the Western Cape proved to be more financially viable than the Tongan drum kiln. The Tongan kiln was however shown to have advantages over other technologies in charcoal production from invasive alien vegetation by unskilled labour.
- ItemOpen AccessNew imperatives for energy policy in South Africa(1994) Eberhard, Anton; van Horen, Clive
- ItemOpen AccessOperationalizing integrated household energy planning : the case of Malawi(1996) Romahn, Bernhard Paul; Eberhard, AntonRecognition since the 1970s of the adverse consequences in developing countries of deforestation on the livelihood of farmers and the poorer segments of urban households, and on the environment, has led to extensive investments in energy research and household energy projects. Poor performance and failures of woodfuel projects and other policy interventions have led to a radical reconsideration and criticism of the woodfuel scarcity paradigm and associated methodologies and assumptions. Recent research has been focussing on developing a new methodological framework for integrated fuelwood and household energy policies. Against this background, the main objective of this research consists in exploring and evaluating concepts and hypotheses which may be used for developing an effective analytical planning and policy framework for household energy policy. Empirical research has been conducted by the author over several years in Malawi. At the macro level, the often poorly-understood and contentious relationship between population growth, land tenure and land-use changes, fuelwood use and deforestation is examined. Another major methodological theme in household energy policy formation is the conceptualization of farm household decision behaviour and their responses to fuelwood pressures. Relationships between fuelwood and agricultural policies are examined. A range of rural and urban policy interventions are studied in depth. The empirical evidence from Malawi shows that there is no universal set of policy prescriptions which neatly apply to all household energy issues in developing countries. Nevertheless, the complexity of the interlinkages between factors impacting on household energy production, distribution and use points to the need for a coherent conceptual framework. Integrated Household Energy Planning provides this, not in a simple step-by-step set of procedures, but rather in terms of an approach which is sensitive to the range of factors which need to be analyzed and understood before policies are formulated and implemented.
- ItemOpen AccessPerformance evaluation of photovoltaic and diesel electricity generation applications in the Kruger National Park(1988) Morris, Glynn James; Eberhard, AntonThis dissertation documents a research study on the comparative technical and economic performance of photovoltaic and diesel gensets as off-grid electrical power supply systems. The provision of reliable energy supply infrastructures has been identified as a key pre-requisite for social and economic development. The convenience and versatility of electricity have established it as the preferred form of energy for industrial, commercial, agricultural and domestic applications. However, the dispersed geographical nature and low energy consumption of potential electricity consumers in under-developed and rural areas in Southern Africa preclude the extension of the national electricity grid to meet these demands. Traditionally diesel generator sets have been used for off-grid power supply, but the advent of silicon based photovoltaic technology has introduced PV systems as an elegant and increasingly cost effective alternative to diesel gensets. Although studies have been conducted internationally, scant information is available on the relative performance and suitability of these two contrasting technologies in the Southern African context. In addition to conventional diesel genset systems, the introduction of an energy storage reservoir, in so-called genset-plus systems, represents a refinement in the operating characteristics of diesel gensets which also has not been critically evaluated. This study addresses the need for reliable and empirically derived data regarding the operating characteristics of PV and genset based off-grid power systems.
- ItemOpen AccessPhotovoltaic water pumping : a case study in Kwazulu(1991) Gosnell, R J; Eberhard, AntonThis is the first thorough evaluation of the viability and appropriateness of photovoltaic (PV) water pumping in South Africa. It is a case study of the operation of a PV water pumping system installed in a rural community vegetable garden in KwaZulu. The system comprised a 574 WP array, DC power maximizer, DC motor and a Mono (positive displacement) pump. The pump delivered an average of 15 m3 I day over a static head of 12.5 metres for a Standard Solar Day of 5 kWh/m2/d. Three facets were considered: technical, economic, and social. · For the technical evaluation the operation of the whole system as well as that of each component under various conditions were monitored in the field using a data logger. The economic evaluation compared the Life Cycle Costs of PV water pumping with those of diesel, petrol, and electric pumps. The social evaluation was based on three sets of interviews over a period of five years ranging from before the introduction of the pump to four years afterwards. The following are the most important conclusions. Technical: the system Daily Energy Efficiency was 2.22%. This is low in comparison with values given in Halcrow's authoritative report of 2.35% for their average systems and 3.28% for their best systems. The reason for this was the low efficiency of the Mono Pump: 39% in comparison with 41.5% for Halcrow's average systems and 59% for their best. This was because the head of 12.5 metres at Sondela was not ideal for the Mono Pump which is designed for 45 metres. All the low-cost PV pumping systems available in South Africa, however, use positive displacement pumps and are thus inefficient at low heads. But because PV pumps are more competitive economically at low heads and low flow rates, it is important that an efficient pump for these applications is designed. Submersible centrifugal pumps should be considered. · Economics: the applicability of various assumptions to developing areas has been thoroughly evaluated. This has laid U1e groundwork for a accurate computer program which would accurately compare the Life Cycle Costs of PV, diesel, petrol and electric pumps under a range of conditions. Connecting to the grid has many advantages and should be considered first. However, the costs of the normal tariff are affected strongly by the site and this option is out of the question for more remote sites. PV pumps are at the moment competitive with diesel pumps at only low hydraulic heads (around 40 m4/day). However, if a PV pump which was efficient at low heads were designed and if the path of the sun were physically tracked, then PV pumps could possibly be competitive up to hydraulic heads of 1400 m4/day. Social: the study showed that installing pumps in community vegetable gardens can almost double the productivity of the gardeners' time. The gardeners interviewed indicated that, because of the many advantages of PV pumps, they would prefer them to diesel pumps if their amortized costs were up to twice those of the diesel pump., But few, if any, community gardens would be able to raise the capital required for a PV pump. For this reason, a scheme similar to that just introduced by ESKOM could make a crucial difference to the marketability of PV pumps: ESKOM will buy and maintain the pump recovering the costs from the user at a fixed monthly rate stipulated before installation. This scheme obviates the two major barriers to the sale of PV pumps: I) high initial cost and ii) the risk of damage or loss of expensive equipment due to floods, theft, or vandalism.