Browsing by Author "Energy Research Centre"
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- ItemOpen AccessComments on the Carbon Offsets Paper issued by National Treasury in April 2014(Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town., 2014) Energy Research CentreWhile this is not the paper on a full emissions trading scheme (ETS) that had been indicated, comments are provided on the narrower focus of domestic offsets. The design is closely allied to Treasury’s design of a carbon tax as set out in a policy paper (National Treasury 2013), with domestic carbon off-sets designed to reduce tax liability by up to 10%, for activities not covered by the tax. ERC has commented separately on the tax policy, and the present comments should be read together with those comments. The finding that carbon offset projects can generate significant local sustainable development benefits (p. 16) should be treated with caution. The experience with the CDM has been mixed, as assessed for example in (Ellis, Winkler, Morlot & Gagnon-Lebrun 2007). Market mechanisms generally favour low-cost reductions, and require clear policy guidance and / or financial incentives to deliver additional benefits.
- ItemOpen AccessComments on the Carbon Tax Policy Paper issued by National Treasury in May 2013(Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town., 2013) Energy Research CentreOur analysis of the carbon tax as proposed in Treasury’s policy paper is that it is both low relative to the required task and includes a complex set of exemptions. The effective tax rate of R12-48 / t CO2-eq is too little to transform South Africa’s energy economy, and does not make a sufficient contribution to bending the curve of our national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, so that it starts following a benchmark ‘peak, plateau and decline’ GHG emission trajectory, as set out in our climate policy (RSA 2011).
- ItemOpen AccessComments on the draft Integrated Energy Plan issued by the Department of Energy in 2013(Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town., 2013) Energy Research CentreThe Energy Research Centre (ERC) welcomes the publication of South Africa’s draft 2012 Integrated Energy Plan (IEP 2012). We offer these comments, in the hope that they may contribute in the process of making the bold, well informed and robust final integrated energy plan whose implementation can see the country’s economic, social and environmental goals attained. Before delving into the comments that should be considered in the final IEP, ERC found it crucial to congratulate the Department of Energy on achieving such a milestone of producing an official energy systems model with supporting database and supporting data input methodologies, more so because its an OPEN source energy model which can be interrogated by all members of the society. A first iteration of results has been produced and this in itself is a significant achievement. From this perspective the IEP 2012 can be considered a success. This shouldn’t however discourage constructive criticism on technical problems many of which the IEP modelling team are already aware of. The comments are made with a clear understanding that the IEP draft document just showed the results of the model thus far and these comments are mainly on the modelling process and assumptions used.
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- ItemOpen AccessEnergy for sustainable development: South African profile(2004) Energy Research Centre
- ItemMetadata onlyLong Term Mitigation Scenarios: Technical Appendix(2007) Energy Research CentreDemands for heat, processing energy, irrigation, tractors, harvesters and other energy needs (all in Peta Joules) are met through various technologies and fuel sources. Technologies using liquid fossil fuels (tractors, harvesters and pumps using diesel or petrol) are able to use a bio-fossil fuel blend. Tractors and harvesters are also able to run on pure bio-ethanol or bio-diesel for a case in which a farmer may be producing his own biofuel for use in farm vehicles. Demand for energy increases in time with respect to the agricultural GDP. Fuels come from refineries or mines, in the case of coal, and dummy boxes along fuel paths allow for accounting for each specific sector.
- ItemOpen AccessLong Term Mitigation Scenarios: Technical Summary(Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town., 2007) Energy Research CentreThe Long-Term Mitigation Scenarios (LTMS) process is mandated by Cabinet, led by the Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism and project managed by the Energy Research Centre. The purpose is to outline different scenarios of mitigation action by South Africa, to inform long-term national policy and to provide a solid basis for our position in multi-lateral climate negotiations on a post-2012 climate regime. LTMS has been conducted as a process involving key stakeholders, informed by the best available information. Four research teams produced information that was discussed by a Scenario Building Team (SBT) comprised of strategic thinkers from a range of government departments, key industry players and civil society. The Technical Summary provides a concise version of the technical work reviewed and accepted by the SBT. The scenarios produced by the LTMS process are data-based scenarios. This Technical Summary therefore provides the basis, in abridged form, for the scenarios – stories of possible futures. The Scenarios together with the underlying technical work are forwarded by the SBT to high-level discussions in the first half of 2008.
- ItemOpen AccessSolar electrification by the concession approach in the rural Eastern Cape: Phase 1. Baseline Survey(University of Cape Town, 2004) Energy Research CentreThe Energy Research Centre (ERC) at the University of Cape Town is in the final stage of a three year research project monitoring, evaluating and supporting non-grid energy service delivery in three remote rural areas in South Africa. The rural non-grid electrification programme, which was initiated by the South African Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) in 1999, seeks to widen access to electricity. The programme adopted the energy services company (ESCO) model using the fee-for service approach. The ESCO model grants private companies concessions to establish non-grid energy service utilities that install and maintain non-grid technologies for household use, supported by a government subsidy. A team of researchers conducted field studies in three of the five concession areas. These concession areas are located in the north-eastern corner of the KwaZulu Natal Province known as Maputaland, the northern part of the Limpopo Province and in the northern part of the former Transkei in the Eastern Cape Province. Ongoing research in the concession areas has been undertaken since May 2001. One objective of the field research was to assess the initial social impacts and service delivery of the SHSs in the rural communities and communicate the findings to the relevant stakeholders. This report is the first of a series on the impact of solar home systems in three provinces of South Africa. It provides information drawn from interviews with the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) and the National Electricity Regulator (NER), the non-grid service providers and interviews with 681 households. Part 1 of this report introduces the operations of three energy service providers along the “fee-for-service utility model”. The three initial concessionaires and their customers are the subjects of the research that was conducted by the University of Cape Town. They are EskomShell in the Eastern Cape, Nura in KwaZulu Natal, and Solar Vision in the Limpopo Province.
- ItemOpen AccessSolar electrification by the concession approach in the rural Eastern Cape: Phase 2(2004) Energy Research Centre
- ItemOpen AccessSolar electrification by the concession approach in the rural Limpopo Provence: Phase 1. Baseline Survey(2005) Energy Research Centre
- ItemOpen AccessSolar electrification by the concession approach in the rural Limpopo Province: Phase 1. Baseline Report(University of Cape Town, 2005) Energy Research CentreThe Energy Research Centre (ERC) at the University of Cape Town has been involved in a research project to monitor, evaluate and support the off-grid electrification programme initiated by the Department of Minerals and Energy in 1999 in three provinces of South Africa. The energy service company (ESCO) approach, where a company installs and maintains solar home systems for fee paying clients was selected. Private companies were granted exclusive concessions to operate as the energy service companies in the selected areas. A government subsidy was provided to reduce the connection and service fees payable by the users. The three concession areas are in the northeast of KwaZulu Natal province, the northern part of Limpopo province, and the northern part of Eastern Cape Province. ERC has been working in these concession areas since May 2001, principally through conducting surveys with the aim of understanding the social impacts and the installation and functioning of the solar home systems in order to inform relevant stakeholders.
- ItemOpen AccessTowards a new power plan(Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town., 2013) Energy Research CentreIn brief, this report is intended to stimulate debate around our future power sources. The results suggest that nuclear investments are not necessary (at least not in the next 15 to 25 years), nor are they cost-effective based on latest cost data. Gas options should be explored more intensively and hydro projects from the region should be fast-tracked.
- ItemOpen AccessUniversity of Cape Town carbon footprint(Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town., 2010) Letete, Thapelo; Mungwe, Nothando; Guma, Mondli; Marquard, AndrewThe aim of this analysis was to determine the carbon footprint of UCT, not only to give a tangible number with which the university’s carbon sustainability level can be compared with other academic institutions, but also to provide the much needed baseline against which future mitigation efforts on university campus can be measured.