OpenUCT :: Browsing by Author "Prasad, Gisela"

Browsing by Author "Prasad, Gisela"

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Open Access
Assessing the role of solar home systems in poverty alleviation : case study of Rukungiri district in Western Uganda
(2015) Julian, Hakirii; Prasad, Gisela; Moyo, Alfred
Not only does Sub-Saharan Africa have the highest number of people who live below the poverty line, the region has the lowest rate of modern energy access at 32%. The provision of modern energy access in rural un-electrified areas has the potential to contribute to alleviation of poverty. The main objective of this study has therefore been to investigate the impact of Solar Home Systems (SHSs) in poverty alleviation in Uganda. The paper focuses on the impact on four socio-economic categories namely: economic, education, health and gender equity. Our study was carried out in Kebisoni, Uganda. The main finding from our study is that access to solar power does indeed alleviate poverty. The data indicated an increase in households' disposable income due to the use of solar energy for lighting. Savings were generated from a reduced expenditure on alternative lighting fuels such as kerosene. Some households used these savings to meet medically related expenses. Furthermore, our results revealed that there was an improvement in indoor air quality. Children in solar electricity connected households benefited, as they were now able to increase their hours of study at night. Lastly, the study also revealed that access to lighting from SHSs enabled women to supplement household income by engaging in businesses.
Open Access
Constraints on the wide dissemination of photovoltaic solar home systems in the rural areas of South Africa
(2003) Magilindane, Funekile; Prasad, Gisela
Renewable energy is becoming a key policy issue in the energy sector in most countries in the world. Considering various energy options, renewable energies are seen to be ecologically sustainable and they contribute towards conservation of fossil fuels as well as the environment. The use of renewables on a more significant scale than at present is very likely to replace a further significant proportion of fossil fuel use, thereby reducing the associated environmental impacts. The renewable energy sources of importance to South Africa are solar, wind and hydro-energy and energy derived from biomass. The focus of the paper however, is on domestic PV -based Solar Home Systems (SHSs). This is mainly because the principal technology being considered for household electrification in the remote rural areas at present in South Africa remains SHSs. Previous studies, however, indicate that for a variety of reasons, large-scale SHS implementation has been very difficult to achieve in South Africa. For a number of years, extensive efforts have been made in the research and implementation of solar energy technology, and it was widely anticipated that the actual numbers of installations would have assumed very high figures by now. But this has not been the case. The largest obstacles to the wide dissemination of SHSs have been singled out, namely: the high capital investment often required tor installation (which makes it very difficult tor the rural households to afford the systems); and the expectations for grid electricity. The paper argues that although affordability and grid expectations, no doubt, constrain the wide dissemination of SHSs. other factors play an equally important role. It is argued that a plethora of interlocked and mutually inclusive factors constrain the widespread use of SHS. These include factors such as: negative perceptions amongst potential users - arising from lack of system maintenance and consequent system failure; and socio-cultural dynamics. These had not been given much attention in the literature on SHS applications and programmes. yet they have enormous impact on the daily use of energy.
Open Access
Crowd sourcing energy poverty data in South African informal settlements: the opportunity of mobile phone technology
(2015) Pillay, Kimenthrie; Prasad, Gisela; Kruger, Wikus; De Groot, Jiska
Energy poverty undermines development at a large scale. It is most overtly experienced in informal settlements, where the use of fuels like paraffin, charcoal and wood prove hazardous and harmful to health and wellbeing. The expenditure on and use of energy services in informal settlements are largely undefined, which severely undermines the success of energy access and safety initiatives. Despite the poverty of informal settlements, mobile phone ownership is high in these areas. This research aims to explore the potential and applicability of a digital data collecting systems using a mobile application that is accessible on entry-level mobile phones with basic internet access to collect information about energy access, affordability and multiple fuel use in these areas. As part of this research, a mobile application platform and data collection platform was developed which enables survey design and data collection in real time. The platform allows for creation of weekly surveys that question energy use, expenditure and affordability; it also offers other functions that are designed to increase awareness of fuel safety and efficiency. The application was piloted in lmizamo Yethu in Cape Town. Six weeks of continuous data was extracted from 200 users using airtime incentives with an overall reach of 306 households. The quality and quantity of data received was of high calibre. The results indicate that the potential for using this system and mobile phones as a data-collecting tool in Africa is high.
Open Access
Do solar water heaters improve access to hot water and reduce electricity costs? : the complexities of implementing energy poverty interventions in South African Townships : a case study of Nyanga Township
(2011) Maboda, Sivuyile; Oldfield, Sophie; Prasad, Gisela
Solar energy is abundantly available in South Africa, but it is a highly under-utilised resource. One way of efficiently using the resource is solar water heating (swh), a natural process whereby hot water for domestic and/or industrial use is heated by the sun. In 2009, a national swh strategy was drafted by the Department of Energy, which specifies a target to install 1 million heaters in households by 2015. Provincial and local governments have also developed their own swh strategies and the roll out of swhs has started in some municipalities (i.e. the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and the City of Cape Town).
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Does Access to Electricity Enable the Uptake of Small and Medium Enterprises in South Africa?
(Energy Research Centre, 2017-02-14) Prasad, Gisela; Dieden, S
South Africa increased its electrification coverage from 36% to over 70% in the last 12 years. Predominantly poor areas, to which service provision was neglected in the past, got access to electricity. The socio-political benefits of the national electrification programme are documented, but the economic benefits which are generally assumed have not yet been analysed in detail. This paper explores how far existing surveys provide data on the impact of electrification on the uptake of small and medium enterprises or self-employment among households. We analyse nationwide household survey data from 1995 to 2004. Variation in electrification rates among households seems correlated with SMME uptake, but the nature of the association varies across regions and appears to display differing trends over time. A trend of positive correlation of SMMEs and electricity access in poor rural areas does seem apparent.
Open Access
Electricity from solar home systems in South Africa
(Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town., 2007) Prasad, Gisela
In developed countries, renewable energy (RE) technologies are most often introduced for environmental reasons, to reduce GHG emissions mandated under the Kyoto Protocol – which South Africa signed in 2002. The Protocol does not commit non-Annex 1 (developing) countries such as South Africa to any emission targets in the first commitment period (2008 to 2012), however, and it creates no external pressure to reduce emissions. So it is understandable that in this case study the major government concern is not the environment, but access to electricity for the poor in remote rural areas. RE technologies are not widely disseminated in South Africa, although solar resources are very high and solar technologies are particularly suitable. The general environmental awareness is limited when compared to European countries and it is only recently that the media have been more regularly covering issues such as global warming and its impact on South Africa. The South African government generally supports RE, and its RE policy stipulates a voluntary target of 10 000 GWh to be supplied from renewable sources by 2013. The target is approximately 10% of the country’s electricity demand, of which now less than 1% is met from renewable sources (DME 2004). Different players in projects and the industry give various explanations and reasons why the market has not responded more positively, often citing high initial capital cost as the major explanation. The two South African case studies describe solar water heaters (SWHs) (case study 1) and, in this report, electricity from solar home systems (case study 2). Both case studies include the impact of poverty on the dissemination and acceptance of the technology. SHS using photovoltaic panels to generate electricity have been provided as part of the National Electrification programme in remote poor rural areas to which the grid has not been extended, as a substitute for grid electricity, although in fact subsidised SHS were expected to bring light and television services at a much faster rate than they actually did.
Open Access
Energy policies for sustainable development in South Africa: options for the future
(Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town., 2006) Davidson, Ogunlade; Kenny, Andrew; Prasad, Gisela; Nkomo, Jabavu; Sparks, Debbie; Howells, Mark; Alfstad, Thomas; Winkler, Harald
The purpose of this publication is to present a profile of energy in South Africa, assess trends and analyse some options for the future. It is divided into two parts – Part I presents a profile of energy and sustainable development in South Africa, while Part II uses modelling tools and indicators to assess future policy options for the country.
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Energy Sector Reform and the Poor: Energy Use and Supply: a Four Country Study: Botswana, Ghana, Honduras & Senegal (ESMAP)
(2006-03) Prasad, Gisela
The Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) is a global technical assistance partnership administered by the World Bank and sponsored by bi-lateral official donors, since 1983. ESMAP's mission is to promote the role of energy in poverty reduction and economic growth in an environmentally responsible manner. Its work applies to low-income, emerging, and transition economies and contributes to the achievement of internationally agreed development goals. ESMAP interventions are knowledge products including free technical assistance, specific studies, advisory services, pilot projects, knowledge generation and dissemination, trainings, workshops and seminars, conferences and roundtables, and publications. ESMAP work is focused on four key thematic programs: energy security, renewable energy, energy-poverty and market efficiency and governance.
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Energy sector reform, energy transitions and the poor in Africa
(Elsevier, 2008) Prasad, Gisela
There is little systematic information about the impact of energy sector reform on all sources and methods of energy utilised or potentially utilised by the poor. It is not sufficiently known what fuels the poor use, if a larger range of fuels becomes available and affordable and if barriers to access and consumption are reduced. A detailed assessment is presented for four countries, three in Africa (Botswana, Ghana and Senegal) and for comparison one in Latin America (Honduras), of steps taken to reform the energy sector and their effect on various groups of poor households. The paper analyses the pattern of energy supply to, and use by, poor households and explores the link—or its absence—to energy policy. We investigate what works for the poor and which type of reforms and implementation are effective and lead to a transition to more efficient and clean fuels from which the poor benefit. Energy sector reforms when adjusted to the specific conditions of the poor have a positive impact on access and use of clean, safe and efficient fuels. The poor are using gradually less wood as cooking fuel. Gas and kerosene are made more widely available through market liberalisation and subsidy in the particular case of Senegal. Electricity access and use is generally promoted or subsidised through changes in payment conditions and lifeline tariffs.
Open Access
Energy, inequality and pro-poor growth in South Africa
(2010) Ngepah, Nicholas Nwanyek; Prasad, Gisela; Leibbrandt, Murray; Ali, Ali Abdel Gadir
The effect of energy on inequality and poverty is not well understood and its role in growth-inequality-poverty nexus has not been adequately studied. A country's energy mix can playa significant role in economic growth and poverty alleviation. Policy authorities and donors increasingly lend support to modem energy provision, especially Rural Electrification (RE). This thesis investigates which energy types contribute to poverty alleviation in South Africa and through what mechanisms. Theory indicates that poverty alleviation comes by growth boosting and inequality reducing policies. As such, the investigation of the pro-poor effects of any policy or factor would naturally culminate in studying the effects on economic growth (or production) and income distribution. Theory suggests endogeneity on one hand between energy and GDP and on the other between GDP and inequality. This necessitates a system of equations rather than the traditional single equations approach. There are other (South Africa-specific) reasons why the inequality-development relationship and the role of energy should be investigated. First, South Africa has been under-researched due to lack of data. Recent data released by the Presidency of South Africa (AMPS Dataset) makes such analysis possible. Secondly, the Kuznets' inequalitydevelopment hypothesis can be tested with time series data rather than the cross-section analyses found in earlier literature. Third, energy's role in economic growth or production has been analysed with aggregate energy measures and aggregate GDP. This work argues that such an approach will mask energy type-specific and sector-specific details and undertakes a more disaggregated analysis. Fourth, the multiracial nature of South Africa requires sub-group decomposed inequality rather than national aggregates.
Open Access
Energy, water and climate change in Southern Africa: what are the issues that need further investment and research?
(Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town., 2012) Prasad, Gisela; Boulle, Michael; Boyd, Anya; Rahlao, Sebataolo; Wlokas, Holle; Yaholnitsky, Ivan
Regional climate change projections in Southern Africa, based on GCMs comparing 2080-2099 to 1980-1999, indicate that global warming will most likely lead to greater than the global annual mean temperatures for all seasons, 3.1°C for summer warming and 3.4°C for winter warming (Christensen et al, 2007). Warming in Southern Africa will lead to increasing rainfall intensities, decreasing frequencies of low intensity (soft soaking) rainfall and longer dry period between rainfall events. This will result in more severe draughts, floods and heatwaves, which will lead to greater food insecurity. In historic times, draughts and floods had already major impacts on Southern African populations. Around 1200 to 1500, droughts led people to abandon settlements in the Kalahari Desert. The Lifaqane wars, starting in about 1815, were characterized by a 25-year period of famine and violent conflict between peoples in Southern Africa. During the 1991-1992 draught, 20 million people in the region (15% of SADC population) needed food relief (Dejene et al 2011). Many parts of Southern Africa face two critical resource constraints on development, namely energy and water. Energy and water are closely linked at different levels and scales. Water drives the turbines of hydroelectric power plants. Processing of coal and cooling in thermal and nuclear power plants requires water and energy is required to lift, treat and distribute water. Even at the household level, we observe water-energy linkages. When using water-saving showerheads, for example, we not only save water, but also electricity for heating the water. This complex interconnection is called the water-energy nexus. At the same time, coal-based power plants emit large amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and climate variability which then leads to floods and droughts. In times of drought little water flows into hydroelectric dams, affecting electricity generation. For rural communities the greater frequencies and severity of droughts and floods caused by climate change leads not only to crop failure and subsequent hunger but also interferes with water supply technologies when, for example, the water levels in boreholes rise or fall beyond the specification of the pump. Thus climate change critically impacts the water-energy nexus. The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Canada commissioned the Energy Research Centre (ERC) at the University of Cape Town to assess the water-energy nexus in the context of climate change. ‘The goal of the exploratory project is to analyse the way energy and water services can be combined and improved to enhance resilience and adaptive capacity of communities to climate variability and change’. After an introduction to the water-energy nexus in Southern Africa (Chapter 1) and a brief review of the four countries studied as well as climate change scenarios for the Southern African region (Chapter 2), the study reports on the following four major research topics identified by the Southern African team: 1. The state of integrated planning of water and energy resources in the context of climate change (Chapter 3). 2. Opportunities and barriers for renewable energy technologies for rural water services in Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique (Chapters 4 and 5). 3. The water-energy nexus in policies of South Africa (Chapter 6). 4. An investigation of water supply adaptation technologies and strategies in a case study from Lesotho (Chapter 7). The assessment is based on secondary data through a cross-disciplinary desktop study, discussions with experts and two workshops. The countries covered in this report are Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa.
Open Access
An exploration of household energy use patterns among grid electrified households in low-income rural and peri-urban communities in South Africa
(2008) Reddy, Yachika; Prasad, Gisela
This study therefore explores the energy use patterns of low-income grid electrified households in rural and peri-urban areas of South Africa – rural and peri-urban areas being the two areas where majority of the poor reside - as a means to inform insights on the energy use of the poor within these two landscapes. It is important to understand the energy use patterns of these households, in order to inform policy interventions aimed at enhancing the energy welfare of low-income households through improved access to safe, affordable and reliable energy services to be designed and targeted congruent to the energy needs of poor households. Energy use patterns of low-income households in this study were examined using data from a household energy survey conducted by the University of Cape Town.
Open Access
Factors influencing the societal acceptance of new, renewable and energy efficiency technologies: meta-analysis of recent European projects
(University of Cape Town, 2007) Brohmann, Bettina; Feenstra, Ynke; Heiskanen, Eva; Hodson, Mike; Mourik, Ruth; Prasad, Gisela; Raven, Rob
The paper addresses the conditions for the successful introduction of sustainable energy technology projects in different geographic, institutional and cultural contexts. Our aim is to identify contextual and process-related factors influencing the level of societal acceptance and techno-economic successfulness achieved in energy projects that aim to mitigate climate change (renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced technologies). Our focus is on successfulness on the level of individual projects, but we also consider how ‘lessons learned’ in individual projects diffuse into the wider context of energy planning. In our conclusions, we identify key challenges for project managers and policy makers.
Open Access
Frameworks for attaining universal energy access
(2014) Louw, Katherine; Prasad, Gisela
When assessing universal access to clean, modern energy, Sub-Saharan Africa lags behind many other regions. It has an electrification rate of 32 and in rural regions, only 18 of households have access to modern energy. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, there have been two successful cases for expanding access to energy, those of Mauritius and South Africa. Using a case study approach, this dissertation outlines the key components of the necessary enabling environments, including the need for central coordination; effective, independent regulatory regimes; and monitoring and evaluation as a component of good governance, to ensure programmes are adaptable. Using this theoretical framework to analyse the two countries’ experiences, the author establishes that even though the Mauritian and South African electrification programmes were implemented in different decades under different sets of socio-economic circumstances, common elements drove the success of both programmes. Both countries placed great political importance on achieving universal energy access. The political will created the sustained momentum needed to implement successful electrification programmes through ensuring sufficient funding, establishing legal environments and policy frameworks within which to operate, and allowing for technical options to be explored where necessary.
Open Access
How best to generate carbon revenue for small-scale projects in sub-Saharan Africa
(2013) Atkins, Peter Stuart; Prasad, Gisela
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) has not worked for sub-Saharan Africa and its mainly small projects, delivering only 0.3% of the total CDM carbon offsets. This is thought to be because of the low intensity of the greenhouse gas reducing interventions prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, the lack of institutional capacity relating to the CDM processes, the high transaction costs of the lengthy CDM process – typically amounting to R 500 000 per project per year and taking years to complete the process. An alternative for small carbon emission-reducing projects is to register carbon reductions with the voluntary carbon market and its Verified Emission Reductions (VERs) carbon credits. By examining the carbon markets in some detail through the lens of a particular case study, this dissertation has investigated and identified the main factors affecting the cost-effective generation of small emission reduction projects in sub-Saharan Africa. The chosen case study was a small-scale South African voluntary carbon project, the Umdoni bioethanol gel fuel-switching project. Umdoni was identified as an example of a project that generated carbon revenue outside of the CDM. By assessing the manner in which this project addressed the critical requirements of the carbon market while simultaneously alleviating poverty, the study seeks to provide new insight in the components of effective carbon markets. Both the detailed understanding of the voluntary carbon market components and the exposition of an example in which this market worked effectively is considered important at a time when the efficacy of the CDM is being reviewed, casting uncertainty over the role of market based instruments in addressing the global threat of an anthropogenically warmed climate. The study has identified the main factors affecting the ability of small carbon projects to generate net-positive carbon revenue and has suggested ways a small project could exploit this information to its benefit: The type of carbon market the project operates in – the small voluntary carbon market is best, with higher prices and lower costs - The inherent attractiveness of the project to potential carbon offset buyers – small projects with strong sustainable development aspects command higher carbon prices - The registry and carbon standard through which the project trades its carbon offsets – registries and standards which measure and emphasise sustainable development benefits realise higher prices for suitable projects - The type of buyer – Corporate buyers purchasing carbon offsets for image and public relations purposes are best for small projects with good sustainable development co-benefits - The supply-demand situation in the relevant carbon markets – the voluntary carbon market has been relatively unaffected by the crash in the compliance market in 2012 - The project size and the calculation methods chosen – the volume of emission reductions is sensitive to the project scale, the emission reducing technology and the emission reduction methodologies chosen - The transaction costs – the transaction costs for a CDM project are in excess of R500 000, which is far bigger than the likely carbon revenue. Whereas some small voluntary carbon market registry costs are lower by a factor of six and yet they get comparable carbon prices.
Open Access
Impact of energy reforms on the poor in Southern Africa
(University of Cape Town, 2006) Prasad, Gisela; Visagie, Eugene
Most poor households in sub-Saharan Africa cannot afford an electricity connection and even if they get a connection they can only afford to use electricity predominantly for lighting, television and radio. They cannot afford to use it for their most energy-intensive use: cooking. Some countries in Southern Africa have approved policies to assist the poor to get access to electricity. South Africa, Botswana and Malawi have successfully implemented energy reforms and strategies aimed at this, though with different approaches in the three countries. South Africa has a strong economic base and the capacity to provide efficient energy services and highly subsidised electricity access. Botswana’s rural electrification programme is based on cost recovery for the utility: as a result of extending the loan period for the connection fee and adapting the monthly repayment amount to the ability of poor households to pay, electricity connections increased significantly. In Malawi a fixed-rate tariff and a limited-current supply was introduced. The repayment for the ready board was amortised over five years and added to the fixed monthly payment, the amount being adjusted to the ability of the households to pay. In Access II populations were divided into poor and non-poor. These broad categories limited a more differentiated analysis of the impact of power sector reform. In countries which have a high proportion of poor people – in some cases up to 80% of the population – we need to divide them into groups of very poor and not so poor. In this study the poor are ranked by income, and the division into different income groups permitted a more differentiated analysis than just looking at ‘poor’ and ‘non-poor’. The very poor who need further support can be targeted for further assistance. The analysis of the South African data also revealed that the higher urban income groups among the poor can afford to use electricity for most of their energy requirements and need no additional policy support. The analysis also showed how the poor change their energy portfolios as their income improves. The persistent use of fuelwood for cooking among all income groups of poor rural households has remained a matter of concern, particularly as the burning of fuelwood leads to indoor air pollution and affects the health of women and children. The sustainability of fuelwood supplies are also not guaranteed as population increases and fuelwood becomes more commercialised putting pressure on rural areas supplying cities. Even after electrification, households continue to use fuelwood for cooking. The income-differentiated analysis shows that as incomes rise, fewer households use fuelwood and substitute it by kerosene, electricity and gas.
Open Access
The impact of rising electricity tariffs on tariffs on the urban poor : a South African case study
(2014) Franks, Lana; Prasad, Gisela
Historically, South Africans have benefited from relatively cheap electricity where tariffs have not been cost reflective and kept below inflation. Tariff structures have not fully accounted for the cost of investing in new infrastructure for generating, transmitting and finally distributing electricity to the end user. This has partly contributed to an inadequate and constrained electricity supply that is insufficient to meet the growing energy demand in South Africa e.g. the 2008 rolling blackouts (Tait 2011). Since 2004 the average electricity tariff has however increased above inflation to be able to invest in Eskom’s New Build Programme. The increases between 2008 and 2011 were particularly high, in the range of 16 – 22 in real terms. The National Electricity Regulator of South Africa approved an ‘above inflation’ annual average increase of 8 on the 1 April 2013 for Eskom customers and 1 July for municipal customers (NERSA 2013). The sectors however, do not experience the same degree of increase. This study aims to measure the increases experienced by urban poor households and determine the effect of the increases on their energy choices. It was initiated mainly to address concerns that Eskom’s tariff increases may affect the access and longterm affordability of electricity for the poor. Electricity is foundational to society’s ability to function well and without it essential services such as lighting, cooking and virtually anything electronic, will be negatively affected. Thus, any threat to service delivery on the side of the utility and affordability on the side of the customer should both be addressed by pro-poor policies. Eberhard and PDG (2010:2) made a compelling argument that if Eskom cannot extend their generation capacity, which is partly financed through a tariff, then this is not pro-poor. Increasing tariffs so that it is more cost reflective is essential to achieve the objective of meeting the growing electricity demand in the face of an ageing electricity network and a historically cheap electricity price. Tariff increases are inevitable. The real question therefore is how to balance the needs of the utility and the customer; the price of service delivery and the level of affordability, especially for the poor.
Open Access
Implementation and delivery of Free Basic Electricity in the face of the restructuring of the electricity distribution industry
(2006) Dobbins, Audrey H; Prasad, Gisela
Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-67).
Open Access
Informal electricity re-selling: entrepreneurship or exploitation?
(Energy Research Centre, University of Cape Town., 2014) Franks, Lana; Prasad, Gisela
South African energy policies have supported universal electricity access since 1994. On 26 June 2013 cabinet approved a new electrification plan which defined universal access to electricity as 97% of all households having access. The plan stated that all households would have an electricity connection by 2025.
Open Access
Leveraging carbon revenue for poverty alleviation
(2013) Atkins, Peter; Prasad, Gisela
One of the intentions of the Kyoto Protocol and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) was to use markets to allow the developed countries to supplement their own greenhouse gas reduction efforts with carbon reductions made in developing countries by purchasing carbon offsets. By these means, it was hoped, global greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced and developing countries would benefit through incoming carbon revenue and technology transfer. This has worked for China and India, which together account for 88% of all CDM carbon credits issued so far, but it hasn’t worked for Africa which has only a miserly 1% of the issued credits. The main reasons for this disparity are thought to be the high transaction costs of the CDM and the long and complicated registration, validation, monitoring and verification processes. The costs are around R400 000 to R2 000 000 per project (CCWG, 2009) . In addition it can take up to three years to get carbon revenue, if the project is one of the lucky 13% of projects to make it through to the end (see Appendix A – CDM Pipeline analysis). Partly in response to these CDM shortcomings, the voluntary carbon market has emerged. The voluntary carbon market has many players using many different standards and rules and regulations. Unfortunately, the CDM-like standards used by the bigger voluntary carbon market registries also incur high transaction costs and long lead times and therefore don’t work for typical, small African poverty alleviation projects with low greenhouse gas emission reduction potential. This has encouraged the development of small, agile carbon registries using simplified standards, which better fit the African projects. One such small registry and one of its poverty alleviation projects are analysed in this paper.