Browsing by Subject "south Africa"

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    Integrated rural energy planning for South Africa
    (1996) Loon, Marc John; Eberhard, Anton A
    Poor rural communities of South Africa frequently face shortages of convenient, affordable energy services. Sub-sectoral energy interventions that are not properly coordinated with each other and with the development context are unlikely to address the problems effectively. The methodology of 'integrated rural energy planning' (IREP) is a possible means of achieving this coordination. This process encompasses a new paradigm which is an improvement on the supply-driven thinking of the past. It seeks to overcome anomalies in the rural energy system in a way that places the final users of energy services at its centre, that coordinates planning between different energy sub-sectors, and integrates energy planning with economic planning processes. It emphasises continuity, efficient utilisation of resources, and genuine participation of rural people. Although originally designed for the energy sector as a whole, the theoretical methodology is applicable to rural regions of developing countries with only small modifications. International and local experience in IREP is not extensive, but it nevertheless provides valuable lessons regarding methodological and institutional requirements. The current trends in the institutional framework in South Africa show that while there are many obstacles to implementing an IREP process, there are also many unique aspects which suggest that an IREP process could be very effective. It seems clear that an appropriate way forward would be to launch a well-resourced and strategically-located initiative that would investigate, with care and foresight, the potential and relevance of an IREP process in South Africa.
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    South Africa Low Carbon Scenario Report
    (2007-12) Mwakasonda, Stanford A
    South Africa is the most industrialized country in Africa, with a population of about 47 million people by 2007. Its economy is highly dependent on energy production and use, making it one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world. Coal provides 75% of the fossil fuel demand and accounts for 91% of electricity generation. After the ratification of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol respectively in August 1997 and July 2002, the South Africa government embarked upon numerous projects that relate to a broad understanding of issues around climate change, including projects that have been intended as measures to reduce GHGs and adapt to climate change. The bulk of GHG emissions in South Africa come from the energy sector, whereby the sector contributed 78% of South Africa's total greenhouse gas emissions in 1994, and more than 90% of carbon dioxide emissions. An energy-intensive economy and high dependence on coal for primary energy is a major reason for this pattern. Being a non-Annex 1 country with no binding target to reduce GHG emissions, South Africa has generally taken the approach of sustainable development to create a platform for developing into a low carbon society. Three main areas are seen as being critical toward achieving such objectives, namely energy efficiency, renewable energy and cleaner fossil fuels. Achieving a low carbon emission profile in South Africa is essentially in the context of the power sector, the largest source of greenhouse gases in the country. At the end of 2000, there were 50 power stations in the country, of which 20 were coal-fired, accounting for 90% of the total licensed capacity of 43 142 MW. For future sustainable energy supply, South Africa is looking to more Southern African regional resources, as opposed to purely domestic resources, especially within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which has considerable hydropower and natural gas potential. This is in line with the objective of government policy for electricity supply is that of the 1998 White Paper on Energy Policy, namely to 'ensure security of supply through diversity'.