Browsing by Subject "Electricity"

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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.
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    Renewable energy policy in South Africa: Policy options for renewable electricity
    (Elsevier, 2005) Winkler, Harald
    Investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency is important to reduce the negative economic, social and environmental impacts of energy production and consumption in South Africa. Currently, renewable energy contributes relatively little to primary energy and even less to the consumption of commercial energy. This article examines policy options for promoting renewable electricity. Feed-in tariffs guarantee prices for developers, but lack certainty on the amount of renewable electricity such laws would deliver under local conditions. Portfolio standards set a fixed quantity, which would guarantee diversity of supply. The question is whether the incremental upfront cost to be paid by society may be unacceptably high, compared to future health and environmental benefits. A renewables obligation combines the setting of a target with a tendering process, but may be bureaucratic to administer. Neither setting targets or regulating prices alone, however, will be sufficient. Power purchase agreements, access to the grid and creating markets for green electricity are some supporting activities that should be considered. Given that renewable electricity technologies have to compete with relatively low electricity tariffs, funding will be needed. Possible sources, both locally and internationally, are identified. The extent to which these are utilised will determine the future mix of renewable energy in South Africa.