Vol 5 Nr 2 2010 – R49
Biofuels &
true sma r grids t
rural livelihoods in
Tanzania
Solar water heating: An industry analyses Decommissioning South Africa’s nuclear plants
Burundi: expanding hydropower resources
Contents No 2 2010
cover story SunFor Technologies, a leading energy efficient, lighting and building safety company, supplies a range of lighting and building solutions. Some of their larger projects include the installation of LED lighting in Lagos and Ibadan in Nigeria. Find out more about LED street lights, traffic lights, tunnel lights, garden lights and a variety of other LED Lighting Product Solutions. Read more from page 46.
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Enervations
Biofuels
Energy efficiency
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Future concept car
28 Tanzania: Villagers concerns
46 One-stop energy efficiency
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New micro wind turbines
29 Success for Sustainable
50 Amflora starch potato
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Self-recharging hydrogen fuel cell system
Biofuel Research
10 Sustainable strategies in organisations 12 Energy projects receive grants
56 Greening the FIFA World Cup 58 SA’s electric car
Renewables 30 Solar water heating
CDM
Country profile
35 From around the world
60 SA business going green
14 An overview on Burundi
38 A low-carbon economy
63 Tax or trade
39 Investing in renewable energy
Climate change
Instant update
18 COP16
Nuclear energy
64 Global Climate Network
22 How sceptic should we be?
40 The safe decommissioning of plants
64 New president at SAAEs
25 Action plan for improved climate products
43 Westinghouse signs MoU with
65 Hydropower at Lake Kariba
66 Academic support
SA engineering firm
Oil and gas 26 Nigeria to become bunkering hub
Electricity
Energy events
27 Shell to sell interests in production licenses
44 Smart grids
67 Energy events
www.25degrees.net
Business willing to change to low carbon economy A recent report published by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), called Appetite for Change, takes an in-depth look at the ‘global business perspectives on tax and regulation for a low carbon economy´. Interestingly, this report was first published prior to COP15 in Copenhagen, which makes for very interesting reading. Why was the survey done? To inform dialogue. Who was surveyed? Almost 700 executives in 15 different countries across the globe. What is driving the impacts of climate change in business today? Businesses are basically driving themselves, with very little leadership from government, but they are also driven by customer expectations, business opportunities and competitively. Despite no legally binding agreement coming out of Copenhagen, there is a definite awareness as to the inevitability of businesses and governments to change to a low carbon economy. In South Africa, only 20% of businesses think government is effectively signalling business to review environmental policies and curb energy consumption. This compares to a 44% global average. What influences corporate behaviour? 77% is driven by law and legislation. Business wants to see an alignment of incentives with behavioural change, but that still has commercial viability. 88% of the respondents of the report feel that monies raised from environmental taxes and regulation should be ploughed back into environmental schemes (although only 31% are confident this will happen). The business perception of ad hoc levies is not a favourable one. One instance would be the new green car tax. Although brazenly mentioned in the budget speech recently, we are still largely unaware of what this tax implies and to which pot of gold this money would be allocated, or even whether it would be applied to any form of climate change adaptation or mitigation. The report highlights the fact that there is a very definite call to government to engage with businesses, companies and corporates in terms of what can possibly be done to lead South Africa to a low carbon economy. Government must realise it would need the enthusiastic buy-in of companies to successfully turn the super taker around. But even an exercise of that proportion must start with a simple step – a decision. The complete report can be viewed online at http://www.pwc.com/en_ZA/za/assets/pdf/ pwc-appetitie-for-change-2010.pdf.
Marlene E van Rooyen
Publisher:
Media in Africa (Pty) Ltd www.mediainafrica.co.za • www.25degrees.net International Contact Information: Tel: +27 12 347 7530 • Fax: +27 12 347 7523 E-mail: marlene@25degrees.net Postal Address: PO Box 25260, Monument Park, 0105 Republic of South Africa Physical Address: First Floor, Unit G, Castle Walk Corporate Park Cnr Nossob & Swakop Streets, Erasmuskloof Ext. 3, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
The 25º In Africa team:
Editor Marlene van Rooyen Tel: +27 83 327 3746 E-mail: marlene@25degrees.net Founder Schalk Burger (1943 – 2006) senior Sales executive Andre de Wit Tel: +27 84 513 2580 E-mail: andredw@25degrees.net Journalist Adriénne Brookbanks Tel: +27 82 468 4566 E-mail: adrienne@25degrees.net business unit coordinator Zuerita Gouws Tel: +27 12 347 7530 E-mail: zuerita@25degrees.net Industry Consultant Lourens van Rensburg E-mail: lourens@25degrees.net Imbewu Sustainability Andrew Gilder – Climate change and CDM legal specialist
25º in Africa: Africa’s Independent Energy Publication covers the whole gamut of energy sources, production needs, environmental impacts and the current issues surrounding them.
Publishing Manager Liezel van der Merwe
25º in Africa’s mission is to disseminate information on any and all energy-related issues, with an emphasis on developments in Africa and the impact on the environment.
Financial Manager Fanie Venter
The focus of the publication is on energy, but it carries related information to provide a broad, unbiased and independent view of all the pertinent issues.
Copyright: The copyright for all content of this publication is strictly reserved. No part of this may be copied in part or fully without the express written permission of the editor. Disclaimer: Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher, the editorial team or its agents. Although the utmost care is taken to ensure accuracy of the published content, the publisher, editor and journalists cannot be held liable for inaccurate information contributed, supplied or published. Contributions: The editor welcomes contributions and encourages items of interest to our readers in the energy sector. All advertisements and editorials are placed solely at the discretion of the editor and subject to prior approval. 25º in Africa reserves the right to edit, withhold or alter any editorial material to complement the style of the publication. Subscriptions: 25º in Africa is published bi-monthly as a print publication. 25º in Africa is also available as a free web download. For more information, please contact the editor or editor’s assistant on Tel: +27 347 7530 or visit us on www.25degrees.net
Design and Layout Ilze Pohl Accountant Sietske Rossouw E-mail: sietske@mediainafrica.net Proofreader Hesca Joubert Reproduction & Printing Business Print Centre
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Dow Solar Solutions (DSS) – a business unit of the Dow Chemical Company – recently unveiled its Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingle: revolutionary thin film CIGS photovoltaic solar shingles that can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingle materials.
Alternative energy projects
receive tax credits, grants T
he innovative CIGS solar cells and proprietary product design provides an unprecedented integrated aesthetic at lower installation cost because the conventional roofing shingles and the solar shingles are installed simultaneously by roofing contractors. Following this, the Dow Chemical Company has received a Job Creation Tax Credit from the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) which includes incentives for the recently announced Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingle facility. The MEGA Job Creation Tax Credit was awarded to Dow by MEGA and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) for future job creation in the state. The credits are only applied when new Dow jobs are created in Michigan. Earlier this month, DSS announced that Midland, Michigan has been identified as the preferred site for the first full-scale production facility for its revolutionary Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingle, subject to finalising local, state and federal funding.
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manufacturing associated with the wind energy and transportation industries. Also, Dow Kokam, a joint venture between Dow and TK Advanced Battery, LLC, has announced that the MEGA has approved Dow Kokam’s application for tax credits to produce lithium ion battery packs for hybrid and electric vehicles at its battery manufacturing facility in Midland, Michigan, signalling another important milestone in the advancement of Dow Kokam as the leading fullpackage battery system producer, and the growing importance of Midland and the state of Michigan to the advanced battery industry. The tax credits, equivalent to US$42-million, enable Dow Kokam to incorporate battery pack assembly equipment and production capability into Phase II of its production plan which could be initiated as early as 2011. Dow’s diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemicals, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture.
“This incentive package will enable DSS to accelerate production plans for the solar shingles already being manufactured in limited quantities at our Michigan Operations market development plant,” said Jane Palmieri, general manager for Dow Solar Solutions. “The MEDC team has been great to work with and as a result of their support we can get our revolutionary shingles on more homes quicker.”
In 2009, Dow had annual sales of US $45-billion and employed approximately 52 000 people worldwide. The company manufactures more than 5 000 products at 214 sites in 37 countries across the globe. Further information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
Dow also received a US $5-million grant through the MEDC from the Centers of Energy Excellence (COEE) programme to help accelerate innovation efforts to manufacture a cost-effective carbon fibre for use in industrial market applications such as wind energy and transportation.
Dow Kokam was established in 2009 to develop and manufacture advanced energy storage technologies for the transportation and other industries. Dassault joined The Dow Chemical Company and TK Advanced Battery LLC as owners of the company when Dow Kokam acquired Société de Véhicles Electriques in January 2010, and Dow Kokam brings technologically advanced and economically viable battery solutions to the U.S. automotive industry.
Utilising its technology leadership in chemistry and material science, Dow will work to significantly reduce carbon fibre manufacturing costs through innovative polymer precursor development incorporating energy-efficient processing in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Energy’s largest science and energy laboratory, and its lead in low-cost carbon fibre research and development.
In 2007, Dow received US$20-million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop “building integrated” solar arrays for the residential and commercial markets. Dow Solar Solutions is focused on developing the next generation of solar energy and expanding Dow’s commitment to use chemistry to solve the world’s energy challenges.
Upon success, this project will assist in transforming and diversifying Michigan’s economy through alternative energy generation, as well as
More information about Dow Solar Solutions can be found at www.dowlorarsolutions.com.
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ENERVAT I O N S
Dynamic solutions for alternative energy products in Africa Enervision’s alternative energy solutions include Solar Water Heaters, Photovoltaic panels, generators and inverters with battery backup systems. This power solutions supplier has offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town with their own dedicated and contracted staff. The team at Enervision is a dynamic group of industry leaders and they are here to help you.
Meet the Team Darryl Hartgill – Key Accounts and Technical Specialist With 25 year experience, Darryl handles Key Accounts and provides technical support for the Alternative Energy team. Neville de Kock – Electrical Engineer Neville has 15 years experience and provides the necessary technical support to keep Enervision at the forefront of the Alternative Energy Market. He is on various technical committees for SESSA and SABS.
Solar Water Heaters
100 litre - 240 litre options 4 different models
Craig Dalby – Solar Water Heater Installation Specialist With numerous years experience, Craig focuses exclusively on customer sales, Solar Water Heater installations and co-ordinating sub-contractor obligations. Ryan Malan – Marketing Manager With 15 years experience, Ryan is responsible for leading the Alternative Energy team. Ryan’s goal is to see Enervision as the leading provider of alternative energy products in the lower income market within the next 12 months. Michella Hattingh – Customer Relations Co-ordinator Michella handles customer relations from point of sale to point of installation. She also assists in divisional marketing. Enervision’s research and development has been fine-tuned by focusing on innovative and cost-effective solutions to the ever-changing needs and demands of the people of South Africa and beyond. Contact Enevision for more information on alternative energy solutions. Enervision Tel: +27 11 397 3702 www.enervision.co.za 25 o in A f rica
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World’s first
self-recharging hydrogen fuel cell system Electro Power Systems SpA is changing the economics of backup power by launching ElectroSelf, the world’s first entirely self-recharging hydrogen fuel cell technology. ElectroSelf is designed to deliver dependable backup power for mobile networks in any location whether off-grid, in locations with unreliable power or in extreme climates.
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he fuel cell system, which is self-contained and self-recharging, consumes only water, produces zero greenhouse gas emissions and can be installed to backup renewable or mains power, according to www.electrops. it. It releases mobile operators from much of the inconvenience of providing backup power through batteries and it drives operating expenses down,
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minimises maintenance, eliminates diesel refuelling or battery replacement costs and provides comprehensive remote power monitoring and control. Ongoing fuel costs and the cost for replacement of moving parts are eliminated, which lowers the total cost of ownership and the ElectroSelf requires only minimal water top-up once per year.
ENERVAT I O N S
Greener solutions for operators
Power potential to rural communities
According to www.electrops.it ElectroSelf gives operators an opportunity to make a significant step towards greener networks and operations because it’s a completely clean technology with minimal CO2 emissions in manufacturing and zero CO2 or NOX emissions in operation. There is no hidden toxic waste disposal cost and it’s designed to work with both renewable and grid power. The fuel system is particularly useful for off-grid applications because it enables the storage of renewable energy. For example, the fuel cell could store solar energy during the day and then support the station during hours of darkness.
ElectroSelf has advanced control and power electronics that enable remote management and control over TCP/IP or mobile connections. For operators looking to release the potential of rural communities, it also provides the potential for selling excess power back into the grid or for providing community power, creating a further potential revenue stream for operators to pursue more rapid payback at the edges of their network.
This smaller environmental footprint that this fuel system brings is also matched by a smaller physical footprint, owing to the fact that it requires no extra space for dedicated air-conditioning or cooling (each ElectroSelf system is comprised of two units measuring just 600 x 800 mm). “ElectroSelf represents a huge opportunity for operators to make a step towards cleaner, greener networks. The industry is at a turning point when power for base stations will increasingly come either wholly or partly from renewable energy. These still need backup power, but that must come from clean energy too if networks are to become truly green. ElectroSelf can completely release operators from the difficulties of purchasing and supplying backup fuel. It’s the only fuel cell solution which generates 100% of its own hydrogen, so it’s the first to promise the freedom and flexibility that operators need,” Adriano Marconetto, founder and CEO, Electro Power Systems SpA.
During power outages, ElectroSelf generates power by combining Hydrogen (H2) and Oxygen (O2), producing only water as a by-product. The power system engages automatically whenever external power fails. Whenever power is available it generates its own hydrogen fuel by the electrolysis of the demineralised waste water from the power generation phase and it does this automatically whenever there is external power available, keeping the H2 tank full. Ashton Swartbooi, large-scale energy storage specialist at the CSIR (Council of Science and Industrial Research), comments that a lot of research is being done into fuel cell technologies and electrolyser technologies. “There is very good potential for many power supply options and although the idea of this type of energy storage is not a new one, the unit in itself might be,” concludes Swartbooi. For more information, visit www.electrops.it, to which full acknowledgement and thanks are given.
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Eco-friendly retrofit for Melbourne building an example for all “Buildings are responsible for 40% of all emissions, making them the single biggest emitter of carbon emissions,” Mike Taylor, Vice President of Honeywell Building Solutions. “Given these figures, it comes as no surprise that large urban areas with the densest and most mature building stock are among the biggest targets to reduce emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases.”
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he City of Melbourne has launched a comprehensive programme to make its buildings more energy and water efficient. In Melbourne alone, the commercial building sector contributes a startling 48% of the city’s total emissions, giving efforts to curb their output the potential to make a significant impact. In May 2007, President Clinton announced the creation of CCI’s Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Programme and Melbourne’s Building Retrofit Programme is being carried out in partnership with the (CCI) and the C40 — a group of the world’s largest cities dedicated to tackling climate change. “This programme brings together many of the world’s largest energy service and technology firms, financial institutions and cities in a landmark effort to reduce energy consumption in existing buildings across the municipal, private, commercial, educational and public housing sectors. The initiative’s merging of governmental, environmental and business concerns to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome on an international level is an unprecedented effort,” says Taylor. Melbourne’s zero net emissions goal has a 15 year payback Melbourne is one of the first C40 cities to initiate a retrofit programme and the Melbourne Council has set a goal to reduce carbon emissions by at least 50%. This is against the backdrop of the City’s ambitious target to reach zero net emissions by 2020 through low carbon, renewable energy and other initiatives.
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“The programme includes 13 buildings, will cost AU$2.4M to implement and will pay for itself, via the energy and water savings, in 15 years. The resulting savings are guaranteed by the energy services company (ESCO) — Honeywell, in this case,” says Taylor. “So if the project fails to perform as designed, the company will make up the difference to ensure the city carries no economic risk.” The conservation measures of the programme include HVAC systems and building controls, lighting retrofits, solar pool heating system, low flow plumbing fixtures, rainwater harvesting technologies and gas, water and electricity metering using a wide area network computer system. “This will result in not only more efficient buildings but significant infrastructure investments that will not adversely impact operating budgets or require additional ratepayer funding – a boon for the city, its residents and the environment,” concludes Taylor. For more information, visit www51.honeywell.com, to which full acknowledgement and thanks are given. Honeywell Tel: +27 11 695 8023 Fax: +27 11 315 2199 E-mail: debbie.rae@honeywell.com
Advanced Metering ENERVAT I O N S Infrastructure AMI for effective energy efficiency Advanced Metering Infrastructure AMI is a complete two-way data communication system for automatic meter reading (AMR) that uses low voltage power line grid as the medium (known as PLC technology).
Energy efficiency in practice G
reen Technologies was established to assesses the negative impact that the inefficient use of power has on our environment. They do this by looking at the latest technologies and trends in the market place and adapt these innovations to suit the needs of the South African market. Green Technologies’ philosophy is to ensure that all their products make commercial sense so that both the private and public sector making use of the products we offer are able to see the positive monetary impact of using energy more efficiently. The research, development and strategic relationships of the company span from Europe to America, keeping them in touch with innovations and advancements in the green technology industry. By questioning why “going green” or “being efficient” means incurring an expense, Green Technologies aims to provide the best energy efficiency products to their clients that offer returns. For more information on Green Technologies solutions, contact shalin.govender@nys.co.za. Green Technologies: Tel: +27 11 726 8092 Fax: +27 11 726 7736 Website: www.gtech.co.za
ROBUST, RELIABLE DATA Designed to meet International Standards, it provides robust and reliable data communication by using low speed, error detection and error correction techniques. GREEN TECHNOLOGIES PROVIDES THE THREE COMPONENTS REQUIRED TO BUILD THIS AMR SYSTEM: Digital AMR electricity meter [MTC 1000/SP]: Replaces the old mechanical electricity meter. This hi-tech meter is a complete energy recorder, with built-in power line modem for data communication (PLM). Data concentrator [DTC-1000]: This data concentrator is installed in every distribution transformer, providing a communication bridge between the electricity company and every meter connected to the distribution transformer. Data server [STC-1000]: Installed in the electricity company’s office. Provides user-friendly access to all DTCs and MTCs equipments, with built-in SQL database server for easy integration of existing management and accounting software. Access instant and real-time valuable information WITH JUST A CLICK… With just a click, you have access to demand profile, maximum demand analysis, technical and non-technical losses analysis, QoS, remote control and monitoring (cut off the energy, read any electrical parameter), and remote reconfiguration of any parameter (multi-tariff, setup prepaid mode, load control, alarms) of any meter.
For savings, control and efficiency, contact Green Technologies: Tel: +27 11 726 8092 Fax: +27 11 726 7736 E-mail: info@gtech.co.za www.gtech.co.za 25 o in A f rica
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“S
ustainability is a lot more than just global warming. There are many other aspects of sustainability that are critical to our future,” says Graham Terry, Senior Executive of Research and Strategy at the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). The business case is compelling for many reasons, of which the most noteworthy are: • Competitiveness • Cost of capital • Reputation • Human resource costs • Effective risk management • Business opportunities
“Nor does reputation stop at the corporate border; it extends into the value chain, which Nike discovered to its detriment back in the 1990s, when it used Asian suppliers employing children in their factories. The age of electronic media renders it difficult for companies to hide skeletons,” Terry continues. “Looking ahead, corporate no-go areas will mushroom. Environmental, social and economic issues are going to play an increasingly important role with customers and employees. Issues such as pollution, carbon and water footprints, and human rights behaviour will affect consumer buying patterns.”
Competitiveness
Human resource costs
“The World Business Council for Sustainable Development has estimated that the market for so-called green business was about $US700-billion in 2007 and that it would grow to about $US3-trillion over the next four or five years, which is a huge market,” explains Terry. In 2009, the McKinsey organisation researched the CEOs of the world’s top 2 000 companies, with two interesting results: • CEOs expected significant government intervention in markets and industries over the next five years; and • CEOs anticipate unprecedented levels of innovation over the next decade.
Last year, Terry attended a public debate on human resource costs and sustainability. “One of the participants argued that sustainability issues didn’t concern him. He said he was prepared to pay his employees the market rate, while, however, conceding that his salary bill might be higher than that of a competitor enjoying a better public image. Employees feel uncomfortable working for companies with a poor public image,” says Terry.
Terry believes there will be a significant amount of regulation flowing from the financial crisis; but as the world enters periods of scarce resources, much of the regulation will tackle resource usage and waste management. “As resources become scarcer, prices are likely to climb. Hence, waste management and process efficiencies will become increasingly important. Sustainability issues will drive competitiveness in the future and organisations that fail to see the light will be left behind,” says Terry. Cost of capital Regrettably, few investors are flexing their sustainability muscles. The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) is one; the Johannesburg Stock Exchange’s (JSE) Socially Responsible (SRI) Index another. “Globally, however, investors are beginning to recognise that companies adopting sustainable strategies are providing superior returns, partly because of an understanding that sustainability does not translate into philanthropy, but into genuine sustainable business strategy,” says Terry. “As this realisation dawns, companies failing to adopt sustainable strategies will be penalised, primarily through higher cost of capital rates.”
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human resource costs and cost of capital. While there are many related dimensions, sustainability issues are paramount.
Effective risk management All businesses have to manage their risks, many of which involve sustainability issues like energy security, greenhouse gas emissions, waste management and human rights abuses. “Companies that are not in tune with sustainable development are unlikely to manage risks effectively. They may be able to deal with risks when they are embodied in legislation, but they need to address the issues before they are encoded in legislation if they want to mitigate the impact effectively,” says Terry before adding that if government imposes emissions taxes, for example, it’s likely to cost more to fix the problems at the time of the imposition of the tax than it would have been if the company had addressed the problem earlier. Business opportunities “Many companies look at the risks of sustainability without recognising the opportunities. There must, for instance, be opportunities for companies to design and implement processes that reduce energy wastage. As electricity costs rise steeply, many energy-saving products and processes will emerge. Already building designs are changing to conserve energy and water and, in some cases, even generate energy,” concludes Terry.
Reputation
Graham Terry (BCom), CA (SA), Vice-President of SAICA, has written a book entitled “Green”. The publication deals with why corporate leaders, including chartered accountants, need to embrace sustainability to ensure future profitability.
According to Terry, corporate reputation is a critical element of a company’s business, affecting as it does issues ranging from customer loyalty to
To order a copy of the book, visit www.sustainabilitysa.org or www.saica.co.za.
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ENERVAT I O N S
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Concept car shows opportunities for the future of energy efficiency
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ASF – The Chemical Company and Hyundai have jointly developed an i-flow concept car which was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in the beginning of March. The innovations of this car, such as the high-gloss Liquid Metal coating which is not only eye-catching, but also environmentally friendly due to the use of a waterborne paint system, have not been combined in automobiles to date and illustrate possibilities for environmental automobiles in the future. The concept car offers important new approaches to sustainable mobility and BASF’s contributions to the i-flow allow greater fuel efficiency, a lower environmental impact, freedom of design as well as greater comfort and safety. “The i-flow is a milestone on the road to the car of the future. Because Hyundai was quick to involve us in the development process, we were able to offer our full strengths. We are very happy with the outstanding results of our cooperation,” says Dr. Wolfgang Hapke, head of BASF’s Performance Polymers division, at the presentation of the new concept car in Geneva. “BASF proved to be a true partner, with whom we jointly developed innovative solutions for design and engineering. For example, our new ‘fluidic sculpture’ body language is particular well expressed by the innovative coating technique used for the i-flow concept car,” comments Thomas Bürkle, head of Hyundai’s European design center. Lightweight construction conserves resources The i-flow’s concept for the seat frame provides an example for how lightweight construction materials can help conserve resources. It features Ultramid® Balance, a polyamide of which 60% is made from renewable raw materials, as well as other thermoplastics and energy-absorbing foams. The joint goal was to save as much weight as possible by using plastic components. Luquafleece® is a moisture-absorbing material that was incorporated into the car seats in order to ensure that drivers and their passengers enjoy a pleasant seating climate even at the height of summer, which would reduce the use of air-conditioning in the vehicle.
The modern diesel engine of the i-flow is encapsulated with a rigid foam polyurethane insulation system that protects both the engine and the environment. On short trips and in city traffic especially, engines are slow to reach the optimum operating temperature or cool down quickly and the thermal engine insulation lessens this effect, reducing both emissions and fuel consumption. In addition, a harvesting system, using the thermoelectric effect, converts heat from the exhaust gases into electrical energy that helps power auxiliary systems, resulting in significant fuel savings. Meet stringent emission standards at a more favourable cost A new catalyst from BASF combines four technologies to cut emissions in just two components. As a result, it’s possible to satisfy increasingly stringent emission standards for automobiles at a relatively favourable cost. At the same time, the new solution saves both weight and space. Passive heat management also reduces the energy consumption of the i-flow. For example, a wide range of infrared-transparent and infrared-reflecting pigments in the car interior result in cooler plastic surfaces for the dashboard, seat and center console. Pigments from BASF’s Sicotan®, Sicopal® and Lumogen® ranges provide very dark or black surfaces that remain distinctly cooler when exposed to sunlight. The result: greater comfort and less energy for air conditioning. The i-flow demonstrates the current state-of-the-art in the development of new materials and technologies for automotive construction and BASF is continuing to provide new innovations for energy efficient cars of the future. BASF Holdings South Africa (Pty) Ltd Tel: +27 11 203 2422 Fax: +27 11 203 2430 E-mail: petra.bezuidenhout@basf.com Website: www.basf.co.za
New micro wind turbines by Philippe Starck Revolutionair is the new line of Micro Wind Turbines designed by acclaimed French designer Philippe Starck and developed by Italy’s Pramac S.p.A. These wind turbines took two years to research and develop and they have been designed for domestic use and small business applications. According to www.revolutionair-pramac.com, the range of vertical-axis windmills are extremely efficient in domestic application and suitable for urban area installation. They operate independent of wind direction, can exploit even turbulent air flows and are extremely silent in every wind speed condition.
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The new Micro Wind Turbines range consists of two models with different power and design: the 400W WT, with a quadrangular form and a power output of 400W and the 1 KW WT, with a helicoidal shape and able to generate power of 1KW. According to www.designboom.com, the turbines are made out of transparent plastic and can be fixed in your garden or on the roof. Sources: www.designboom.com, www. mywindpowersystem.com, www.pramac.com. Right: Phillip Starck recently presented his new micro wind turbines in Milan in January 2010.
ENERVAT I O N S
New building automation technologies and solutions Innomatic, a reputable automation system provider in Gauteng, continues to help customers save energy with innovative technologies in building automation. The latest technologies, coupled with the ongoing support of their highly qualified team, are contributing to the evolution of green building changes in South Africa in a significant way. Revolutionary wireless switching Innomatic, a reputable automation system provider in Gauteng, continues to help customers save energy with innovative technologies in building automation. The latest technologies, coupled with the ongoing support of their highly qualified team, are contributing to the evolution of green building changes in South Africa in a significant way. Saving Energy Wireless, battery-less sensors harvest their own energy through solar cells with no direct sunlight needed, only 200 lux of ambient light for 3 hours will power the unit for 14 hours in complete darkness, enabling you to use as little energy as possible for each action. These wireless sensor allow energy saving through automatic light control, temperature control, daylight harvesting, status control and many other application where you can save energy. Intellegant building Architects and designers are continually faced with the challenges of designing intelligent buildings that conserve the environment and uses less energy. Radio technology is essential to the success of building automation because it permits the required number, functionality and flexibility of the necessary sensor and minimizes installation times as well as reduces system cost . The EnOcean standard lays the technology foundation for systems in compliance with the principles of building biology and is thus the central key to intelligent green buildings. EnOcean defines the industry standard for “battery-free radio sensors�. Unlike all other radio technologies, these radio sensors have perfected the concept of bettery-less, wireless systems that harvest their own energy and operate for decades without maintenance. Cost reductions and energy saving in building and industrial applications are changing the way we think about energy. With intelligent visualization and control software and the revolutionary wireless, battery-less sensors and switches, intelligent buildings are created. Innomatic also offers other energy saving solutions such as power monitoring as well as a wide range of occupancy sensors. For more information, contact Innomatic today. Innomatic Pty (Ltd) Tel: +27 11 840 0840 E-mail: sales@innomatic.co.za Website: www.kyasol.co.za 25 o in A f rica
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co u ntry prof ile: Burundi
Country profile: Burundi
In October 1993, Burundi’s first democratically elected president was assassinated after only 100 days in office, triggering widespread ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. The conflict and violence spanned almost 12 years and over 200 000 Burundians perished due to this conflict.
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undreds of thousands of Burundians became refugees in neighbouring countries or were internally displaced. An internationally brokered power-sharing agreement between the Tutsi-dominated government and the Hutu rebels in 2003 paved the way for a transition process that led to an integrated defence force, established a new constitution in 2005, and elected a majority Hutu government in 2005. Led by President Pierre Nkurunziza, the new government brokered ceasefire with the country’s last rebel group in September 2006 but still faces many challenges. Location: Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Climate: equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2 670 m above sea level). The average annual temperature varies with altitude but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1 700 m. Two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January). Terrain: mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains. Elevation extremes: • Lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m • Highest point: Heha 2 670 m Natural resources: nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone. Land use: • Arable land: 35.57% • Permanent crops: 13.12% • Other: 51.31% (2005) Natural hazards: flooding, landslides, drought Current environmental issues: soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations. General economic overview: Burundi’s economy is predominantly agricultural, employing more than 90% of the population and accounting for 35% of the GDP. The country is landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector.
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country p ro f i l e : b ur undi
The primary exports in Burundi are coffee and tea, which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings, though exports are a relatively small share of the GDP. Export earnings and the ability to pay for imports rests primarily on weather conditions and international coffee and tea prices.
Import partners: Saudi Arabia 20.7%, Belgium 12.6%, Uganda 8.4%, Kenya 7.4%, China 5.9%, France 5.4%, Germany 4.9%, India 4.1%, Tanzania 4.1%, Japan 4% (2008) Debt external: $1.2-billion (2003 est.)
The Tutsi constitutes a 14% minority of the population, which dominates the coffee trade. Only one in two children go to school, and approximately one in 15 adults have HIV/AIDS. Food, medicine, and electricity remain in short supply. Burundi’s GDP grew around 4% annually in 2006-09.
Information courtesy of www.cia.gov to which full acknowledgement and thanks are given.
Burundi will continue to remain heavily dependent on aid from bilateral and multilateral donors; the delay of funds after a corruption scandal cut off bilateral aid in 2007, reduced government’s revenues and its ability to pay salaries. Burundi joined the East African Community, which should boost Burundi’s regional trade ties. Burundi’s main challenge to economic growth will be maintaining sufficient fiscal discipline and peace during the upcoming national elections scheduled for 2010. GDP – purchasing power parity: $3.266-billion (2009 est.) GDP – official exchange rate: $1.41-billion (2009 est.) GDP – real growth rate: 3.8% (2009 est.) GDP – per capita (PPP): $300 (2009 est.) GDP – composition by sector: • Agriculture: 33.3% • Industry: 21% • Services: 45.8% (2008 est.) Population below poverty line: 68% (2002 est.) Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (2009 est.) Electricity production: 92-million kWh (2007 est.) Electricity consumption: 125.6-million kWh (2007 est.) Electricity exports: 0 kWh (2008 est.) Electricity imports: 40-million kWh; note – supplied by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2007 est.) Oil production: 0 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil consumption: 3 000 bbl/day (2008 est.) Current account balance: $144-million (2009 est.) Exports: $79-million (2009 est.) Export commodities: coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides Export partners: Switzerland 27.9%, UK 11%, Pakistan 9.5%, Belgium 5.1%, Rwanda 5%, Egypt 4.7% (2008) Imports: $318-million (2009 est.)
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15
co u ntry prof ile: Burundi
Burundi needs US$500-million to tide over power crises
According to an article published on 19 January 2009 on www.hydro.energybusiness-review.com, Burundi needs an investment of US$500-million to tide over the power shortage in the country. Burundi has decided to start rationing power to homes and businesses in Bujumbura for an indefinite period on account of poor management of its main hydroelectric dam during the dry season. As per a government official, the Chinese government had decided to build a 10.5 megawatt (MW) hydroelectric dam, in 2009, at an estimated cost of $41-million. Water and Energy Minister Samuel Ndayiragije reportedly said that if Burundi received this huge investment, the country would be able to build a hydroelectric dam that can produce 100 MW. “With such capacity, the problem of energy shortages would be sorted out,” said Ndayiragije. Burundi has production capacity of 32.5 MW, of which the main hydroelectric dam produces 8 MW. Only 3% of 8-million people in Burundi have access to electricity. As per officials, Burundi imports 15 MW from the Democratic Republic of Congo and is looking at increase it.
Burundi: Multi-sectoral water
and electricity infrastructure project
In May 2008, the World Bank approved a US$50-million loan to the Burundi government for the Multi-sectoral water and electricity infrastructure project for Burundi. According to www.worldbank.org, the development objectives of this project are to: (i) increase access to water supply services in peri-urban areas of Bujumbura; (ii) increase reliability and quality of electricity services; (iii) increase water supply quality and reliability in Bujumbura; and (iv) strengthen State Company responsible for Urban Water and Electricity Services (REGIDESO’s) financial sustainability. These objectives will be accomplished by helping REGIDESO to restore its financial and commercial viability and the quality and continuity of services in the face of the increasing demand from individual consumers and economic agents. The project consists of three components: • • •
The electricity component, which will support urgent investments0 to rehabilitate the electricity supply system and reduce the supply/demand gap. The water component, which will support short-term investments to increase access to water supply, reduce losses and reinforce the capacity of the supply and distribution system. The institutional component, which will support the strengthening of the capacities of both REGIDESO and MWEM.
Sources: www.worldbank.org; www.hrchp.org; www.nationsencyclopedia.com
Burundi’s hydropower resources According to a presentation by the Hangzhou Regional Center for Small Hydropower (www.hrcshp.org), hydro-energy is the most prominent source of energy in Burundi. The total potential hydropower capacity is 300 MW and the total already installed capacity is 30 MW (10%). The electricity and water production and distribution in Burundi are assumed by a national company, REGIDESO, which has been servicing Burundi for 40 years. Another small public department (DGHER) supplies water and electricity to rural small cities. Bujumbura and Gitega are the only two cities in Burundi that have municipal electricity services (www.nationsencyclopedia.com). According to www.energyrecipes.org, over 90% of electricity is consumed in Bujumbura (the country’s capital).
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Two dams completed since 1984 have increased the amount of power production from hydroelectric installations and in 2000, recorded production was about 148-million kWh, of which 99% of was hydroelectric. In 2006, there were 27 small hydroplants, defined as plants up to 1 MW, in Burundi (www.energyrecipes.org). A report entitled Developing Renewables: Country energy information Burundi, dated September 2006, states that 86% of Burundi’s energy consumption is biomass, comprising of wood, charcoal and peat, and only 11% is imported products and 2% electricity. According to this report, rebel attacks throughout 2003, coupled with cease fire accords and agreements between warring parties that have not been fully implemented, have resulted in several power disruptions to the Burundian capital and have prevented any hydroelectric energy development in the countryside.
Providing
country p ro f i l e : b ur undi
Turnkey Solutions
Consolidated Power Projects (Pty) Ltd (CONCO) specialises in the creation of turnkey solutions for the electricity supply industry based on the design, procurement, construction, commissioning, project management and site management of high-voltage installations – including substations, overhead power lines, protection and automation systems, and renewables. CONCO is South Africa’s largest high-voltage construction company and is owned by the Buildworks Group, a publicly listed entity. Over 600 completed projects Established in 1986, CONCO has built a formidable reputation as an electrical infrastructure development company, driven by qualified engineers, with an impressive footprint in South Africa and Africa. Our products are our projects of which over 600 have been successfully completed for a long list of notable companies and our experience extends to collaborating with governments, utilities, municipalities, mining houses, the industrial sector, finance houses and capital investment schemes.
Accreditations and affiliations CONCO is proud of having achieved the following major accreditations and affiliations: • CONCO operates in strict accordance with International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards and South African National Standards (SANS). • ISO 9001:2000-certified quality management system and is widely accredited by key suppliers and original equipment manufacturers for supply, erection, commission and support. • CONCO is one of few high-voltage electrical companies in South Africa able to claim a 9EP rating from the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). • Eskom and Eskom Enterprises vendor lists representation and the company has vendor status that further extends to leading utilities and mining houses – locally, regionally and globally.
World class, hands-on and committed Because CONCO handles everything in-house – from design and supply, through installation and commissioning, to project management – we are able to create turnkey solutions within cost parameters, to deadline and to first world specifications. This has earned CONCO a solid reputation as a company with which customers want to deal and an organisation for which experts want to work.
Consolidated Power Projects (Pty) Ltd Tel: +27 11 805 4281 Fax : +27 11 805 1132 E-mail: conco@conco.co.za Website: www.conco.co.za 25 o in A f rica
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COP16
climate ch ange
Does Africa need a legally binding agreement?
According to the New York Times, Washington’s climate policy analysts and several experts with ties to the Obama administration are starting to quietly abandon the once sacrosanct belief that all nations must agree to legally binding emission targets. There were many doubts that a legally binding treaty would be achieved at COP15 and when, after months of planning this was not achieved, people started to wonder whether it would be likely or even desirable to achieve this at the next Conference of the Parties in Cancun, Mexico. 18
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c l i m ate c h ange
“I think that it is politically easier for world leaders to shift the goalposts towards a ‘political deal’ instead of a legally binding one,” says Melita Steele, Climate & Energy Campaigner for Greenpeace Africa. “However, you just have to look at the 3 000 events held in over 130 countries worldwide on the global day of action last year calling for a legally binding deal in Copenhagen to see that more and more people around the world believe that all nations do have to commit to a legally binding agreement.” Andrew Gilder, Director at IMBEWU Sustainability Legal Specialists, says that one of the most interesting developments at COP15 was a widespread idea that the EU was trying to kill Kyoto,” At COP15, people were shouting and protesting that we must not kill Kyoto, but the belief that a legally binding agreement is the trigger for action is misguided. There is a range of actions that can be implemented, domestically within both developed and developing countries, prior to the achievement of a legally binding international agreement.” The Kyoto Protocol, which requires countries to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases by an average of 5.25% between 2008 and 2012, became legally binding in 2005. “Although the Kyoto Protocol compels industrialised countries to cut emissions, the US is not party to it. It is widely acknowledged that the US needed to be involved in climate change negotiations and according to the New York Times, developing countries do not want to give up Kyoto because it “enshrines the idea that poorer countries need only take voluntary measures unless wealthy ones pony up financial assistance.” Peet du Plooy, Trade and Investment Advisor at WWF SA (World Wildlife Fund South Africa), says that the Kyoto Protocol is not the only multilateral agreement that the US will not commit to. “There is a whole list of multilateral agreements that the US have not legally committed themselves to in the past, seeing these as imposing on the country’s sovereignty. This includes not ratifying the Conventions on Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, not signing the Mine Ban Treaty and ‘unsigning’ the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court ” says du Plooy. See www.glonalpolicy.org/component/content/article/154/26665.html “There is suddenly some noise about moving away from a legally binding agreement, but this is really only a US argument. The G77, Europe and virtually everyone else is still standing by the necessity of a legally binding agreement,” says du Plooy. Legally binding = money for Africa
What everybody wants Getting the world’s nations to commit to a legally binding agreement has been the first and foremost concern amongst policy negotiators and climate change activists. But after days of talks and debates an Accord, which was merely noted by the United Nations, was all that was presented. Disappointment, finger pointing and blame shifting ensued. But what if legally binding isn’t what we should be focusing on?
On 29 January, Alf Wills (Deputy Director General from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism) sent a letter to Yvo de Boer (head of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change) stating that South Africa will take nationally appropriate mitigation action to enable a 42% deviation below the ‘Business As Usual’ emissions growth trajectory by 2025, but that the extent to which this action will be implemented (in accordance with Article 4.7 of the Convention), depends on the provision of financial resources, the transfer of technology and capacity building support by developed countries. “A fair and ambitious legally binding agreement would enable African countries to implement effective local action plans to leap-frog dirty
2 5 o in A f rica
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climate ch ange
Steele comments that African countries should still be seeking a legally binding agreement and they also need to start focusing on domestic action plans. “Domestically enforceable action plans are critical. However, it’s important to note that, apart from South Africa, few African countries would be able to implement these kinds of plans without a substantial amount of financing and technology being provided by Annex 1 countries for developing country mitigation, adaptation and forest protection, and that Africa is a net carbon sink. Which is one of the reasons why a legally binding agreement is so important – to protect the most vulnerable countries around the world. It is also a lot more difficult to try and get 192 different domestic action plans of varying targets.” Notwithstanding his abovementioned comments Gilder agrees that domestic action would best be undertaken in accordance with a legally binding agreement. “Although the taking of domestic action has been part of South Africa’s agenda for some time, such action is likely to become more important once the Green Paper, setting out a fiscal, legislative and regulatory regime for dealing with climate change, is released – which is expected by mid- year. But South Africa should be taking domestic action in addition to legally binding emissions reductions commitments from Annex 1 countries. We need to see Annex 1 countries committing to specific targets.” Du Plooy confirms that although countries are not putting off the development of local climate policies until a legally binding agreement is achieved by the COP, some of the local action plans are indeed lagging.
Although a legally binding agreement is not the ultimate goal, people are starting to look towards their own countries and asking
Confusion about “legally binding”
what is being done domestically.
Gilder believes that one of the reasons for the focus on a legal binding agreement is that there is confusion regarding what this essentially means.
development and facilitate a green development path. It would also commit Annex 1 countries to providing funding and technology for adaptation and mitigation for a specified period,” agrees Steele.
“There is certainly confusion amongst not only delegates, but also the public, on what ‘legally binding’ is and what it is not,” says Gilder. “There is a naïve view that Annex 1 country Parties’ emission reduction targets are the only legally binding obligation. We have found, for example, that some Non-Annex 1 country Parties are of the view that they have no obligations at all, under the climate change regime, because they do not have to make emission reductions. On the contrary, under the Climate Change Convention Non-Annex 1 country Parties are obliged to report on their greenhouse gas emissions and to formulate, implement, publish and regularly update regional programmes for climate change mitigation” says Gilder.
“If the legally binding agreement was both fair and ambitious it would mean large scale predictable funding for adaptation and mitigation for most African states.” Domestic action plans Although a legally binding agreement is not the ultimate goal, people are starting to look towards their own countries and asking what is being done domestically. “Internationally, some countries are certainly putting off domestic action until a legally binding agreement is reached,” explains Steele. “Some countries have been stalling the negotiating process, but in some cases, for example South Africa, their mitigation targets are an opportunity to drive a more progressive domestic policy in the medium term.”
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“The Green Paper has been delayed since the National Climate Change Summit in the beginning of March 2009,” says du Plooy. According to www.ccsummit2009.co.za, over 600 participants from government, organised labour, business and industry associations, public interest groups and academia convened at this conference.
25 o i n Africa
Steele says that Greenpeace accepts the idea of common but differentiated responsibilities for African countries. “In terms of emissions, aside from South Africa, the African continent has little to mitigate. What is important is reliable and sufficient funding to ensure that green development is a possibility for these countries, and that they can adapt to the climatic change that is already affecting these countries and their people,” concludes Steele. Sources: www.nytimes.com, www.ccsummit2009.co.za.
c l i m ate c h ange
Ensuring business continuity through climate change response planning G
older Associates is one of the most respected global groups specialising in ground engineering and environmental services. Golder Associates assists companies, municipalities and large organisations in Africa in assessing their business risk and creating sustainable climate change response plans. “Climate change has become a heated topic since COP15 in Denmark,” says Rob Hounsome, Leader of Climate Change Services at Golder Associates. “We sent six representatives from our firm to Copenhagen, of which two were from Africa. The meetings were challenging, and there were a great deal of expectations. Although some people left the conference feeling disappointed, I think the conference succeeded at a different level, as it created the opportunity for different organisations and companies to come together and share ideas on how they can work together in responding to climate change.” How climate change impacts businesses Hounsome explains how businesses are fundamentally affected by climate change. “Many businesses do not realise the extent to which their organisation is impacted by climate change. People mainly think of how increasing energy costs and the decrease of energy security will influence their bottom line, but many companies are influenced by climate change in unconsidered ways,” says Hounsome. “A company dependent on natural resources such as water, for example, may not be able to access this resource as a result of climate change. A company dependent on transport routes may find that floods or varying rainfall will impact their business. The health of an organisation’s workforce may also suffer from climate change affects, such as heat exhaustion or increased disease load. It is critical that we stop thinking of climate change as something separate from our businesses, because climate change is not just an environmental issue but a business continuity issue.”
Golder Associates has a team of highly skilled engineers, scientists, project managers and other technical specialists which aims to advise companies on the best possible steps to ensure business continuity in the face of a changing climate. 2010 is the 50th anniversary of Golder Associates, founded in Canada in 1960. This employee-owned company with international expertise employs 7 000 people, and operates in 160 offices worldwide. Their clients span the world’s major economic drivers, including oil and gas, mining, manufacturing, power, transportation and more. “Our team assesses the vulnerability, risks and adaptation options available to a company. Our specialist technical engineers have the capability to design infrastructure that incorporates these adaptation options. Our team focuses on building strong relationships and meeting the needs of clients, making it one of the most trusted professional services firms in the world,” concludes Hounsome.
Planning ahead According to Hounsome, companies will have to plan ahead if they want to effectively adapt to climate change. “We have completed assignments with companies with large infrastructural investments, such as mining operations, on how they will adapt their infrastructure in order to reduce their vulnerability to climate change. This has had an impact on reducing insurance costs,” says Hounsome.
Golder Associates Tel: +27 11 254 4800 E-mail: mail@golder.co.za Website: www.golder.com
“These projects have proven that planning ahead and making sustainable business decisions is far more economically viable than trying to retrofit a building, business or a company’s infrastructure when it is already too late.” says Hounsome. 2 5 o in A f rica
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climate ch ange
Recent climate science failures:
How sceptic should we be?
There have always been climate change sceptics and denialists, but new findings about mistakes in the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have everybody talking once again. Should we start to investigate what we know to be “true” or are the faulty facts only minor hiccups?
F
ossil-fuel power plants could actually be more expensive than nuclear power plants, a chairman of the IPCC could have a conflict of interest due to finances and the Himalayan glaciers could disappear by as soon as 2035. These are some of the current mistakes that have caused uproar amongst scientists, the media and a new breed of climate change denialists. “There are many climate change sceptics around the world and I think there are even more sceptics here in Africa,” explains Dave Collins, a climate change consultant to many JSE top 100 companies in South Africa. “The process of science thrives on skepticism – which is the process of challenging ideas and thoughts – but it’s the actual denialist that we have to be concerned about. Everyone is entitled to have their own opinions, but you can’t have your own facts.” The holes in climate research that allow people to deny climate change During November 2009, e-mails were leaked from the University of East Anglia’s Climatic Research Unit (CRU) that added even more fuel to the denialist bonfire. Amid the hundreds of e-mails, there were several controversial comments that, when taken out of context, seemed to indicate that climate scientists were hiding certain significant gaps in climate science. An article on www.naturenews.com, entitled The real holes in climate science, concluded that although the e-mails contained some verbal faux pas, nothing really challenged the scientific consensus of climate change. The article also pointed out that, as in any active field of inquiry, there are some major gaps in the understanding of climate science and even the most recent IPCC report of 2007 highlighted 54 “key uncertainties” that complicate climate science. According to this article, even though scientists confirm that there are certain holes in climate science and gaps in what we know for sure, these holes do
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not undermine the fundamental conclusion that we are warming the Earth, which is based on the extreme rate of the twentieth-century temperature changes and the inability of climate models to stimulate such warming without including the role of pollution by greenhouse gasses. Guy Midgley, specialist scientist and chief director at the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), says that the main conclusion of all the research is that the world is warming. “The ultimate conclusion, even when taking all the gaps and mistakes in climate change studies into account, is that there is a nine out of ten chance that the Earth has gotten warmer since the 1950s due to human activities,” says Midgley. “There are so many different sources of evidence, such as glacier records, microwave records, lower atmosphere records and so forth. I wouldn’t say that there is isn’t a debate regarding climate change, but the debate of whether it is happening or not is a silly debate fuelled by denialists.” Midgley believes that skepticism is a healthy part of science, but when skepticism is combined with an agenda, it becomes worrisome. “Skepticism is fuelled by denialists who have an agenda and I believe that there are two main agendas here. The first one is the intrinsic agenda of people who don’t believe anything, they intrinsically tend to move against the public opinion and they are proud to be different and be seen as individualistic. I don’t have a major problem with that, but when it flies in the face of overwhelming evidence, I have a problem with it because these people are often fanatic climate change denialists. Secondly, there is extrinsically motivated denialism, mainly fuelled by a conflict of interest, such as people from the fossil fuel industry trying to ensure that fossil fuels remain a source of energy. Both the fanatic individualist and extrinsically motivated denialist appear to have a very similar point of view and they fuel each other,” says Midgley.
c l i m ate c h ange
During the “Little Ice Age”, which took place during 1300-1800, the Earth was only 1.5°C cooler than the temperature we experience today.
Quoting the experts
Small changes with big effects
Collins believes that one of the major reasons for fuelling climate change denialism is the fact that many people are quoted as “expert sources”, when they are in fact not. “Many times, a leading scientists’ or physicists’ opinions or studies will be quoted. Although these people may be leaders in their specific fields, they aren’t always knowledgeable in climate change and global warming. If you have a brain tumour, who are you going to go to – a neurosurgeon or a nuclear physicist?” asks Collins before explaining how the media also contributes to the problem of fuelling climate change scepticism.
“We started burning coal in 1800. After this, we started burning oil in 1920 and gas followed from 1950. When we started burning fossil fuels, huge amounts of CO2 emissions were pumped into the atmosphere. Some denialists are arguing that recent cooling of the earth, which occurred during 1940 – 1975 when we were industrialising and burning lots of fossil fuels, shows that CO2 emissions does not lead to warming. But this is taken out of context because it shows only a few decades of cooling – look at the bigger picture and you will see that the Earth is definitely getting warmer,” says Collins.
“Journalists are taught to get varying opinions in order to get both sides of a story. This is supposed to give people a balanced view of different arguments, but when this is done when reporting on climate change it gives the false impression that there is a debate going on about whether it is happening or not,” says Collins.
How much warmer?
“Of course it’s happening”
A popular denialist argument is to show that the Earth has only warmed and cooled with a few degrees, which cannot be too significant. During the “Little Ice Age”, which took place during 1300-1800, the Earth was only 1.5°C cooler than the temperature we experience today.
“Climate and weather patterns have proven time and time again that global warming is happening,” says Collins. “The way denialists try to prove their case that it isn’t happening, is by taking a small piece of fact out of context – such as showing a small period where the Earth was cooling, but when you look at the bigger picture it was only a short period of cooling. When you look back through years of climate change, you will see that the Earth is warming and there is no denying this,” says Collins.
“The Little Ice Age was not a massive temperature difference from the temperatures that we are experiencing in today’s climate,” explains Collins while showing pictures of Napoleon’s frozen retreat from Moscow in 1812 and of people skating on the canals in the Netherlands around the same time. “This Little Ice Age was only a 1.5°C average drop, which shows the huge difference that a slight rupture in the climate change temperature chart makes.”
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climate ch ange
“Between the time when the world was in its glacial phase 18 000 years ago, there was only a difference of about 5°C and this difference caused a kilometre-thick sheet of ice over half of North America and Europe. We are now talking about a global warming of between 1.5°C – 7°C and it is important people realise that even a warming of 1.5°C is huge,” says Midgley. Climate change allows for sceptics “The IPCC have allowed for denialist arguments, such as the likelihood of ‘sun spots’ causing areas of warming and so forth,” explains Collins. “But there is still global warming that can only be explained by greenhouse gasses. If we were to carry on with business-as-usual, the Earth would be between 4°C – 6°C warmer by 2100.” A Stern look at Africa’s facts According to the STERN REVIEW: The Economics of Climate Change, a 5°C or 6°C rise in global temperature would likely lead to major disruptions and large-scale movement of population. “Besides the movement of population, there will be less water,” says Collins. “Sceptics are saying that creating energy will cause more rain and water, but it will also cause more evaporation and the rain will fall in different places. In Africa, North Eastern Botswana and Western Zimbabwe will be hit the worst,” says Collins before adding that soil moisture and temperature will also affect a large part of South Africa’s agriculture. “Most of South Africa’s crops are grown in areas that are only just climatically suitable for these crops to grow, so climate changes will have a huge impact on our continent in particular,” says Collins.
“Being sceptic and denying
What really matters
hard facts won’t make the
“Everybody is talking about level two and level three problems, such as solar water heating rebates and climate change, but we are missing is the level one problem – the huge elephant in the room, which is the sustainability of human kind,” says Collins.
elephant in the room go away.”
According to Collins the last time the Earth was 5°C warmer, there were alligators near the North Pole. Until 10 000 years ago the climate was very erratic. “We have been lucky to have around 10 000 years of stable climate. Fossil fuels have got us to where we are today, but we cannot deny the fact that the Earth has taken its toll due to this,” says Collins. Midgley agrees that popular denialist arguments simply cherry pick data and report that the Earth has not experienced any significant warming. “Some people say that the Earth hasn’t warmed over the past ten years, but you have to step back and take a broader look at the global temperature. Another popular argument is to refer to local warming, which could be different to global warming,” says Midgley.
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Collins believes that the sustainability of civilisation as we know it is built on two pillars: namely a stable climate and cheap energy. “We used to have a stable climate but this is changing. We used to have cheap energy but this is going to be a thing of the past very soon. 10 000 years ago there were 1-million people on earth, today the population is around 6,800-million. The United Nations has forecasted that the earth’s population will be approximately 9,100-million people by 2050,” says Collins. “We need to start acting and find new ways to ensure the sustainability of human kind. Being sceptic and denying hard facts won’t make the elephant in the room go away,” concludes Collins. Sources: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk, www.naturenews.com.
c l i m ate c h ange
Action plan for improved climate products and services The climate change challenge is indeed real and every social, economic and environmental sector is critically susceptible to climate variability and change. Some 150 experts from all over the world participating in the 15th session of the Commission for Climatology (CCI) of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) held in Antalya, Turkey during February, are discussing an action plan for providing improved climate services to the global community.
his includes the establishment of an open panel of experts that will focus on thematic areas including climate data management, global and regional climate monitoring and assessment, climate products and services and climate information for adaptation and risk management.
T
At operational level, special emphasis has been assigned to the establishment of Climate Watch Systems at NMHSs and RCCs, in order to produce timely and reliable climate advisories. These mechanisms are increasingly being linked to assist user communities in proactively mitigating the impacts of climate anomalies and related extremes.
The President of the CCl Dr Pierre Bessemoulin (France) expressed appreciation to the government of Turkey for hosting the CCl session and the Technical Conference preceding it. He noted that climate and climate related issues feature as important focus areas in the United Nations System including the WMO.
Dr Veysal Eroglu, Minister for Environment & Forestry of Turkey, in his opening speech noted that in the context of climate as a natural resource, observation, climate watch and high quality climate services are essential elements for development. Dr Eroglu also noted that his ministry has taken every measure to increase efficiency in the waste material management and encourage innovative environmental friendly technologies. He continued Dr Veysal Eroglu that climatological assessments and services provided by Turkish State Meteorological Service (TSMS), serve well government purposes for decision making processes at national level.
Dr Bessemoulin highlighted a number of developments including the implementation activities for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Nairobi Work Programme on Impacts, Vulnerability & Adaptation to Climate Change, and the input into the development of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) which was the major outcome of the World Climate Conference-3 held in 2009. In opening the CCI session, the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation, Michel Jarraud, highlighted the contributions made by experts in the CCl who demonstrated that the climate change challenge is indeed real and that every social, economic and environmental sector is critically susceptible to climate variability and change. They equally share the merit for the IPCC Noble Prize for Peace, by facilitating their time and efforts to contribute to the authoritative assessments which resulted in the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC. Jarraud pointed out that the WMO, through the CCl has been improving climate system monitoring on various timescales, in particular by incorporating knowledge access and tools for climate change Michel Jarraud from WMO index analysis.
Mehmet Çaglar, Director General of Turkish State Meteorological Service, noted that challenges posed by climate change are serious threats to sustainable development and countries are forced to take new measures due to the increase of these challenges over time. He added that the TSMS operates 450 stations of surface and upper air observations across the country, conducts satellite observation every 15 minutes with international cooperation, and operates weather RADAR network as well as Regional Climate Models to safeguard the population from natural weather and climate disasters and provide effective early warning systems. The Commission for Climatology, unanimously elected Dr Thomas Peterson, Chief scientist, National Climatic Data Center/NOAA, USA, and Mr Serhat Sensoy, Chief of the Climatology Division, Turkish State Meteorological Service, as the President and Vice-President of the Commission for Climatology, respectively, for the next four years. 2 5 o in A f rica
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O IL AND G AS
Nigeria to become international
bunkering hub
I
n January2010, the federal government of Nigeria announced it has inaugurated an 18-member committee of experts to investigate ways of making Nigeria the hub of bunkering activities in the world. The committee is set to assess the size and scope of the global bunkering industry in order to determine the potentials of the sector in Nigeria and policy framework that would help the country tap into this market. Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr Rilwanu Lukman, inaugurated the panel and said that the global bunkering market is a multi-billion dollar industry and according to Lukman, the right policy environment would help Nigeria to become the hub of these activities. Bunkering is essentially the process of making fuel available for propulsion in the maritime industry and it has been suspended for 10 years due to the non-availability of bunker fuels to bunkering vessels. According to a statement that was signed by the Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Muhammed Ibrahim, the committee was mandated to review current legal and regulatory framework governing the bunkering industry in Nigeria and current guidelines as well as licensing policies of the DPR and all other government agencies on bunkering operations in Nigeria.
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The committee The committee includes key figures from the public and private sector, including the National Security Advisor, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, Customs & Excise Department and the Nigerian Ports Authority. Dr. Mohammed M. Ibrahim is the Chairman of Plenary Committee and Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho is the Chairman of Steering Committee. Source: www.thisdayonline.com, www.oilandgaspress.com.
Nigeria’s oil statistics • Value of petroleum exports: USD$74,70-billion • Proven crude oil reserves: USD$37,20-billion • Proven natural gas reserves: 5,249-billion m2 • Crude oil production: 2,017 (1 000 b/d) • Marketed production of natural gas: 32,83-billion m2 • Refinery capacity: 445 (1,000 b/d) • Output of refined products: 372,2 (1 000 b/d) • Consumption of refined products (1 000 b/d) *Note: b/d (barrels per day) Source: www.opec.org
O I L A ND GAS
About bunkering Bunkering, or the refuelling of vessels, is part of a cluster of oil-related activities, and is an essential service. The bunkering industry includes oil and bunker producers, traders, ship owners/operators, managers, boil majors, national oil companies, refiners, bankers, classification societies, maritime lawyers and consultants.
Bunkers are mostly supplied onboard the ship through a bunker barge, which is a relatively small boat or ship supplying fuel or other types of oils to relatively bigger ships (www.brighthub.com).
Shell In January 2010, the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria Limited agreed to transfer its interest in three production licenses and related equipment in the Niger Delta to a consortium led by two Nigerian companies. The agreement covers Shell’s 30% interest in oil mining leases and covers approximately 2 650 km2 in the northwestern Niger Delta. The area includes about 30 wells with a production capacity of approximately 50 000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
to sell interests in three production licenses in Nigeria
“This sale of assets supports the Nigerian government’s goal of expanding opportunities for local energy companies,” explains Mutiu Sunmonu, Managing Director of the SPDC. The buyer is Seplat Petroleum Company Limited, a Nigerian company which is held by two Nigerian firms, Platform Petroleum Limited and Shebah Petroleum Development Company Ltd, along with Maurel & Prom of France. “We have been in Nigeria for more than 50 years and remain committed to doing business here. This transaction should be seen in the context of Shell’s active portfolio management of its assets and interests across the world,” said Sunmonu. Source: www.shell.com/aboutshell
Photo courtesy of Shell
According to www.arkasbunker.com, the term bunker dates back to the days when ships were powered by coal. Because “bunker” referred to the depots where coal was stored, today fuel for ships is called bunker and refuelling is known as bunkering. Fuel oil is also a bunker obtained from the petroleum distillation process.
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biofu els
Biofuel in Tanzania:
villagers concerns High oil prices, concerns over energy efficiency and climate change are causing the demand for biofuels to grow and foreign investors are pushing to acquire large chunks of African land and invest in biofuels production in Africa.
A
ccording to a recent report by the International Institute of Environment and Development, entitled Biofuels, land access and rural livelihoods in Tanzania, Tanzania has seen a rapid increase in biofuel production and investment proposals during the past several years, some negative consequences are already appearing.
understand the process, or their rights and opportunities; land valuations are carried out using inadequate criteria and benefits are promised by companies but not incorporated into a written contract. Of most concern is the high level of risk taken by communities where the proposed investment relies on the transferred land to be used as collateral for bank loans, prior to compensation being paid,” reads the report.
Water scarcity, food crop prices and loss of land rights Although the advantages of biofuel investments in Tanzania are numerous, local communities and organisations have started to raise concerns about the environmental impacts of biofuel plantations in terms of water scarcity and deforestation, particularly in coastal areas. Besides these issues, concerns over the price of food crops in Tanzania are also a concern and local communities are particularly concerned with the loss of rights over customary lands and the way this could impact local villagers’ livelihoods. Land acquisitions for biofuels The report found that over 4 million ha of land have been requested for biofuel investments, particularly for jatropha, sugar cane and oil palm, although only 640 000 ha have so far been allocated and of these, only around 100 000 ha have been granted formal rights of occupancy. Land acquisitions for biofuels are also targeting land that is used for forest-based economic activities that villagers depend heavily on.
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Both the Tanzanian and foreign governments have been promoting this surge in biofuel investments, with some companies proposing biofuel projects involving initial investments of up to US$1-billion, or several billion US$ over the next 10-20 years. Certain biofuels projects have also been delayed by the Tanzanian government in order for the National Biofuels Task Force to complete formal guidelines for biofuels investments. Experiences from other sectors in Tanzania have shown that communities should be supported to increase their ability to negotiate with biofuels investors on their own behalf and the National Biofuels Guidelines of Tanzania show a willingness on the part of government to adapt policy provisions based on field experiences. According to the report, it is important to develop measures that encourage sustainable and beneficial biofuels investments and that provide safeguards against negative impacts in terms of land access, environmental conservation, and food security at this early stage of biofuels development in Tanzania.
Locals don’t understand land compensation process
For more information, visit www.iied.org, to which full acknowledgement and thanks are given.
“The compensation process is fraught with problems. Local people do not
Download the full report here: www.iied.org/pubs/pdfs/12560IIED.pdf.
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SL ASH YOUR MONTHLY BILLS biof ue l s
Sweet success for Sustainable
Biofuel Research
S
cientists have found a way to increase fermentable sugar stores in plants, which could lead to plant biomass being easier to convert into eco-friendly sustainable biofuels. Energy is released in a usable form from biomass when biodegradable matter such as wood or straw is burnt or fermented. Fuel for use in cars is produced by fermentation, and to make the fermentation process more efficient and to maximise energy conversion, a better understanding of the release of sugars from plant cell walls is crucial – and researchers from the University of Cambridge are doing just that.
Get a one-stop utility management solution! Energy Management SA is an independent utility cost management company that can analyse your energy usage and give you a tailor-made solution to significantly reduce your costs. Over 20 years of experience in the
Using the plant Arabidopsis, Paul Dupree and his team have found three enzymes responsible for the production of all detectable levels of a type of sugar called glucomannan. Their research also shows that the quantity of glucomannan can be increased or decreased in the stem with no visible detrimental effects on plant development or cell wall strength. However, the researchers found that changes in glucomannan levels had a detrimental effect on seed development. Dupree explains: “We now know that it may be possible to increase glucomannan specifically in harvestable plant organs, such as stems. This could be very beneficial for the production of bioenergy crops where higher proportions of enzyme-accessible fermentable sugars, such as those in glucomannan, could lead to higher yields of fuel. Achieving higher fuel yields from crops will increase the likelihood of sustainable and economic biofuels displacing fossil fuels”. The increases in fermentable sugar achieved so far are encouraging, but further work is needed to understand how to make substantial improvements in crop species. If the biomass plant material is sourced sustainably, from non-food crops and waste, then this research could help to contribute to significantly increasing the supply of eco-friendly biofuels.
analysis of utility costs in these areas:
Electricity
Water
Sewer/Effluent
Refuse
Assessment rates
Telecommunications
We are able to give you the advice and expertise you need.
CALL NOW for a free consultation! Tel: 011 463 7350
Source: Scientific Computing.
info@energymanagementsa.co.za www.energymanagementsa.co.za 2 5 o in A f rica
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Solar water heating –
the rebate,
industryand results
The government has set the target of 10 000 GWh of renewable energy generation by 2013 and Eskom is expecting its Solar Water Heating Programme to contribute up to 23% of this target. According to Cedric Worthmann, the Solar Water Heating Programme manager at Eskom, the programme has delivered an average of 6.4 GWh per annum to date.
E
skom’s Solar Water Heating Programme was introduced at the beginning of 2008 and, on 11 January 2010, all Eskom Demand Side Management participants were notified that the Eskom rebate for the Solar Water Heating Programme had been increased, giving South Africans even more of an incentive to start switching to solar energy.
solar water heaters are just not practical,” says Barry before explaining that if a building’s orientation doesn’t lend itself to the optimal use of the technology, or for example, where indigenous trees provide a natural barrier between the building and the sun and where an alternate technology, such as a heat pump, may provide a better solution for the application.
Worthmann says that the significant increase of the rebate was calculated in order to allow a five-year payback period. “This calculation is done taking into account the average cost of systems, average savings per system, average electricity tariff rate and cost of capital at prime interest rate per system size,” says Worthmann.
“However, with the rising price of electricity, the increase in subsidies and the reduction in the price of solar water heaters as more competitors enter the market, I believe we will see a natural evolution from conventional electricallyoperated geysers to more efficient solar water heaters, without legislation being introduced,” says Bredenkamp.
Solar by law?
Changing the rebate requirements
James Shirley, General Manager at Kayema Energy Solutions, says that although the Eskom rebate increase has caused a significant increase in solar water heater sales, he doubts that the government’s target will be reached.
Shirley also says that the requirements that enabled consumers to qualify for a solar water heating rebate (i.e added cost of installed equipment) were too high, and offset the previous rebate amount, and the administrative work around claiming the rebate was laborious. “Eskom had a lot of prerequisites concerning not only the heating system, but also the installation, putting a lot of consumers off the process of installing these systems because, it was too difficult to claim the rebate,” says Shirley.
“The rebate is definitely helping the solar water heating industry, but I doubt that government will be able to achieve such significant market penetration,” says Shirley. “Eskom have raised the rebate in order to make solar water heating systems financially viable for the public, but unless government is going to make solar water heating systems compulsory for all new buildings, I don’t see how we will achieve 10 000 GWh of renewable energy generation by 2013.” Barry Bredenkamp, operations manager at NEEA (National Energy Efficiency Agency), says that he doesn’t think it will be necessary or practical for government to make solar water heaters compulsory. “In some instances,
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According to Shirley, there is a lot of paperwork involved in claiming your solar water heating rebate from Eskom, but it isn’t difficult. “You generally wait about eight weeks to get your money back. This is not an extremely long time, but I’m thinking that people are a bit strapped for cash when they are waiting for their claim to be processed, which is deterring them from getting a solar water heating system.”
renewabl es
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“The new process for claiming is very simple: the reason people think it is difficult is that generally, people do not read instructions, and are being misled by suppliers that are not prepared to join the programme,” says Worthmann. www.eskom.co.za/dsm states the rebate system is not in anyway exclusive. The current requirements of a supplier to sell systems that qualify for rebates are the following: • Be able to offer a five year guarantee • Submit documents, including public liability and company details • Have system tested and passed at the SABS for the following: • Safety • Mechanical • Thermal The actual rebate claiming process The ten step program on reclaiming a rebate (according to the Eskom-system), can be summed up as follows: • Thoroughly research the solar water heating system. • Call EEDSM Help or visit www.eskom.co.za/dsm to get an approved supplier. • Get an Eskom approved installer to install the (Eskom approved) system. • Make sure an (Eskom approved) timer is installed by an ECB registered electrician. • Get your supplier, installer and electrician to fill out the relevant details on your claim form. • Complete the rest of the details and attach the relevant documents (original invoice, copy of ID, copy of utility bill and/or electricity bills are listed as examples). • Post the claim to the facilitating auditors (Deloitte) in a self addressed envelope or drop it off in a designated drop box within six months of installation. • Wait for a SMS notification that a) the facilitating auditors have received your application and b) when your application is processed and queued for electronic funds transfer/your form is incomplete. • Payment is made within eight weeks of receipt. • Random technical audits will be carried out on some systems to ensure installation quality and operation. Types of solar water heating systems According to Shirley, there are two main types of solar water heating system; the closed loop and the open loop heating systems. “A closed loop system uses heat exchanger fluid and an open loop means that your actual drinking water goes through a tube through the solar panel.” Shirley says that South Africans have three general solar water heating categories to consider when choosing a system: Thermo-siphon systems. This solar water heating system works like a heating suction where the tank sits above the solar panel of tubes. Water temperature and density are used to create the heat cycle of the system. Pumped or split system. The tank of a pumped or split system is separate from the collector (the tank is usually in the roof in this case). Retrofit. Although a bit of money will be saved when retrofitting an electric geyser to work as a solar water geyser, Shirley believes that this is not the correct way of installing a solar water heating system if the current geyser is more than three years old and an entirely new system should be installed instead of retrofitting an existing geyser.
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Proven technology – the problem is money and public buy-in The value of Eskom’s solar water heating rebate is based on the capability of the system to replace the use of electrical energy and all solar water heating systems included in the programme will have a SABS test conformity report rating their efficiency (www.eskom.co.za/dsm). Based on these test results, a system will qualify for a rebate ranging typically between ZAR1 500 and ZAR5 000. www.eskom.co.za/dsm states that electrical geysers use between 30% and 50% of a household’s monthly electricity bill and replacing a conventional geyser with a solar powered system will reduce that percentage of electricity consumption by up to 70%. “The technology is proven internationally and people now trust the technology in South Africa. The only problem is funding. Even though the solar water heating rebate has made the payback period more viable, the general public still has to be convinced to spend the initial capital on purchasing a system. The client then needs to recover the subsidy from a third party, which means that they are burdened with the administrative issues involved,” says Shirley. The deadlines “The important thing is that the rebate won’t last forever and it has been put in place to encourage people to switch now rather than later,” says Shirley. Worthmann confirmed that there is in fact a deadline for Eskom’s programme. “The Solar Water Heating Programme will continue until 2014 as per an
agreement with the Minister of Energy, or when the first million units are installed,” says Worthmann. “Eskom is engaging with various financial institutions and insurance companies, to increase the uptake of SWHs in the programme. People don’t want to spend money on replacing a system that is functioning, which is why we are engaging with the insurance companies to replace damaged geysers with solar. We are also focusing on working with the municipalities to assist them to help their consumers to convert. This rebate will be offered to all qualifying persons and installations as long as funds are available.” Electrical geysers – who is losing? “In the solar water heating industry, almost all geyser manufacturers have either completely switched to solar water heating systems or they are including solar ranges into their product offerings,” explains Shirley. “The industry knows that solar water heating is the future and everyone is adapting. I don’t think there are any suppliers who truly believe that selling only electrical geysers is a financially viable option – power is getting too expensive and that situation is not going to change. We need to change the way we heat water.” Bredenkamp comments that although solar water heating systems are more widespread today, there are still people selling electrical geysers. “Like I’ve said before, there are certain applications where there is no choice but to install an electric geyser. Many solar water heaters are installed in parallel with an electric geyser, which serves as a back-up for when there are extended periods of inclement weather, so we can’t just do away with electrical geysers,” says Bredenkamp.
Superior Solar Water Heating Products from local flat plate manufacturer
Why choose Powerz-on Products? • • • • •
Local manufacturing of SWH products creates jobs for South Africans and stimulates our economy. Our products carry a 10 Year Warranty, backed by local manufacturers and suppliers. Quality products that compete with the best SWH collectors in the world. Check our SABS test results under Downloads on our website. Manufacturing capacity at Powerz-on is geared towards supplying small, medium and large solar water heating companies. We support entrepreneurial endeavors by giving you greatly reduced start-up costs. The time has come to start your own business and become a SWH supplier! • Powerz-On is equipped to meet the estimated demand of 16 000 units or more per month, enabling us to help supply South Africa’s increasing demand for SWH collectors. • Powerz-On collectors have an aesthetically pleasing design. • The team at Powerz-On understand the unique considerations and requirements necessary to produce a solar water heating collector that can tolerate the extreme conditions and climate here in South Africa.
SWH Get your s from product ho people w hat w have got ! you need
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Solar water heating life cycle Shirley says that, “the life cycle of electric geysers and solar water heating systems are more or less the same”. “Electric geysers generally have a five year guarantee, some have a ten year guarantee, and the design lifetime of a good solar water heating system is around 20 years. Although www.eskom.co.za/dsm states that most systems are guaranteed for five years, the expected life of the equipment is between ten and 15 years and that each piece of equipment has a different profile, which depends on various elements such as geographical area, water usage profile, number of users and the size of the system. Bredenkamp explains that even if you had to replace a relatively more expensive solar water heating system approximately every ten years, the energy savings that one receives is still worth the more expensive initial costs. “The energy savings will definitely make up for the initial costs of the system, but there are some instances where it would not be worth it, such as a holiday home that is only used for one month of the year. It is not really a good idea having a ‘un-utilised’ solar water heater installed, as the pressure build-up can lead to problems with various components of the system, such as the rubber seals,” says Bredenkamp. “Although in principle, we would like to see as many solar water heaters on roofs as possible, one has to do a realistic assesment of the situation and a simple calculation, to determine the sheer economics of the specific application.” Imports not designed for our climate or resources www.eskom.co.za/dsm states that although solar water heating technology is not new to the industry in South Africa, it is still characterised by high manufacturing costs and low sales volumes. “Although the market for solar water heating systems in South Africa is certainly growing, the biggest concern for local suppliers is reputable companies being bombarded by people overseas bringing back cheap goods,” says Shirley. “The problem is not only that overseas solar water heating suppliers don’t have a proper working knowledge of our national codes of practice or that they can not offer a back up service, the problem is that these products are not always designed for South Africa’s climate or resources. Our ambient temperature and solar radiation levels are not the same as many overseas countries, meaning that there needs to be corrective design at the factory level to ensure correct water temperature limits are met for imported systems. Bredenkamp says that although there will always be the problem of cheap imports, South Africa has standards and procedures in place to protect consumers from the majority of poor quality solar water heaters. “There will always be cases where opportunistic individuals see a business opportunity and start importing ‘cheap’ products from various countries abroad. We in South Africa are lucky in this respect, since all products that want to qualify for a subsidy, need to be tested and passed by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). There is a national standard with which
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the products need to comply and the SABS and the Tshwane University of Technology have the equipment to test products according to this standard,” says Bredenkamp. “However, we must caution the public against purchasing solar water heaters that may initially appear to be cheaper (even without any subsidy), than those who have been tested by the SABS. In most cases, these products will not withstand the test of time and the supplier or distributor may not be around in future to honor any given guarantees. It is therefore imperative that the public insist on seeing a SABS test report of the specific product, before making a purchase decision.” Engineering precision of commercial solutions Shirley says that commercial solar water heating systems are very different from the types of solar water heating systems that home owners use. “Commercial solar water heating systems are an entirely different story,” says Shirley. “A lot of engineering work is involved and the costs are obviously higher. Instead of installing one or two panels, you may need over 100 panels with large storeage tanks in the case of a hospital or hotel where a lot of hot water is consumed. But even though this is expensive, the electricity savings does make it financially viable.” According to Worthmann, Eskom will have a programme in place for commercial applications this year. “We are busy formalising a commercial sector solar programme which we hope to launch mid-year. There are many competent companies that can design and install these large systems, and have being doing so for many years,” says Worthmann. “The way I see it, solar water heating systems for commercial applications are about reducing a company’s carbon footprint and lowering your operating costs. A solar water heater should be seen as an investment, not a product. When you buy a solar water heating system, you are buying hot water for the next 15 – 20 years and you are using a lot less energy for this hot water,” concludes Shirley. Sources: www.eskom.co.za/dsm.
renewabl es
Renewable energy targets from around the world
Policies, rebates, subsidies
Country
Renewable Energy Technology
Target (of total energy or electricity, %) (generating capacity, gigawatts GW)
Deadline
Australia
All
20% of all energy
2020
Britain
Offshore wind
32 GW
2020
China
All
15% of all energy
2020
Egypt
Wind
12% of all energy
2020
as never before. These are
European Union
All
20% of all energy
2020
the countries which have
India
All
25 GW
2014
established renewable energy
Solar
20 GW
2020
targets from 2013 to 2020.
All
20% of electricity
2020
Indonesia
All
15% of electricity
2025
Iran
All
2 GW
2015
Kuwait
All
5% of all energy
2020
Japan*
All
10% of all energy
2020
Mexico
All
4 GW
2014
Morocco
Wind
15% of all energy
2020
Russia
All
4,5% of electricity
2020
South Africa
All
4% of all energy
2013
United States**
All
“double the amount”
2012
and incentives to encourage renewable energy are on the rise and many companies are making promises and pledges
*The Japan target may be subject to change as the Japanese government plans to submit Climate Change Law to parliament in coming months. **In pending climate change legislation, the United States has proposed a target of 15 pct by 2020. Twenty-nine out of 50 U.S. states have set targets for minimum amounts of electricity generation from renewable sources, while another five states have voluntary goals.
solar energy plants,” says Duncan Palmer, Research Engineer at the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies at Stellenbosch University. “Compared to the rest of the world, South Africa’s target is low, but one must remember that there are some countries with large hydro schemes, as well as Renewable Energy policy that has been implemented for many years,” concludes Palmer.
“Our target of 4% is definitely possible, especially with the Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff and the already submitted proposals for wind energy and
Source: Reuters, Renewable Energy Policy network (www.ren21.net)
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Concentrating Solar Power renewable power:
The Convenient Truth! Truth will out
© eSolar SA
From Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, circa 1600
and grid tied in the United States of America. Using computing power as opposed to steel and concrete, the promise of CSP for base load power has been realised. New era, rules, players and designs
I
n the 21st century , as mankind witnesses the increasing extremes of climate change, the urgency to use alternatives to fossil fuel power has increased.The key factor is no longer the selection of renewable technologies (there is already a variety available), but the reality of the economics of the technology and their potential to compete with the fossil fuel generating plants. According to eSolar, society has now reached this position with the emergence of the distributed “Power Tower” variant of CSP. The relentless pursuit of grid parity Flying into the face of the “Power Tower” philosophy, which adheres to the concept of “ bigger is best”, the 2nd generation “Power Tower” vendors have decided to rewrite the rules of this CSP derivative. Choosing to design a CSP plant based on the premise “ smaller is bigger”, eSolar has changed the entire CSP “Power Tower” model and not only have they rewritten the book on CSP, they have the only commercial demonstration plant that is scalable
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In order to set the target of grid parity , the engineering rules (as defined by eSolar) were superseded by a set of business rules that include the following: • Replacing metal with software: the heliostats are calibrated in less than 14 days for a 42MWe facility. • Smaller and cheaper heliostats: 290000 1.1m2 units, virtual parabola and rapid calibration and tracking • Distributed and multiple mini power towers: 12 receivers coupled into a steam main ring feed • Off the shelf, or prefabricated building blocks for the plant backbone and infrastructure • Small land footprint: 80 Hectares for a 42MWe plant • Low utility footprint and water consumption • Rapid deployment and low tech, pre fabricated based construction: 9-18 months from ground turning to electrons onto the grid.
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The only power tower in the world that is commercial, scalable and able to be demonstrated According to eSolar, CSP is the only “Power Tower” to boast these enviable credentials: commercial and scalable as the steam conditions on the plant are repeatable and scalable for a 42MWe facility. To initially achieve grid parity, then to become more cost effective than grid parity, the CSP plant must have the following considerations: • unlimited scalability • rapid deployment • pre fabricated including local manufacture • inherent redundancy • non bespoke building blocks • low utility and water requirements • reference site that is scalable and commercial
© eSolar SA
References: eSolar Inc, 130 W. Union Street , Pasadena, CA 91103 www.esolar.com CES IQuad House, Woodmead Estate Woodmead. www.cesza.com Tel: +27 11 797 8400 Email: stuart@esolarsa.com Website: www.esolar.com
Daytime operation
Night operation
3
Central tower receiver boiler
{Wood, argicultural waste, etc}
n
Biomass
Su
w w w w
Boiler
High pressure steam
Heliostats Steam
turbin
e
Generator
Process Steam
Grid
Air condenser
Boiler feed water
Hybrid Solar and Biomass System During the day, sunlight is reflected off heliostats onto the central tower receiver where the heat generates high pressure, superheated steam. At night, biomass is fed to a conventional boiler that generates high pressure, superheated steam at the same pressure as the central tower. High pressure steam is fed into a steam turbine that drives a generator which feeds power onto the grid. Low pressure steam from the turbine is condensed in an air cooled condenser. If required the steam can be bled off the turbine at the desired pressure and used as process steam. Tel: +27 11 445 2300 Email: rex@process.co.za Website: www.process.co.za 2 5 o in A f rica
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A low-carbon economy – how many jobs can SA and Nigeria expect?
T
he Global Climate Network (GCN), an international research organisation, recently published a report indicating that 145 000 jobs could be created from renewable energy by 2020 in South Africa. Assuming this equates with a target of 15% of Electricity from renewable in 2020, 36 400 new direct jobs and 109 100 indirect jobs could be created. However, the latest data in this context reduce the number to 64 000 new jobs in renewable energy between 2010 and 2030. Over 670 000 jobs for Nigeria The Renewable Energy Master Plan by the Nigerian government pinpoints solar, wind, small hydropower and biomass energy. The Nigerian government has also stated its commitment to using lower carbon natural and associated gas to displace diesel, currently widely used for local power generation. According to the GCN report, if all the untapped small-scale hydropower potential were captured and 37 000 megawatts of gas power were installed, just under 670 000 jobs could be created in Nigeria.
and other renewable energy market incentives and subsidies are all different types of policy approaches and frameworks that are being adopted by governments. In order to capitalise on emerging markets in renewable energy and related technologies and establish their place in new global value and supply chains and create jobs, government will need a cohesive, multi-dimensional strategy. • Finance. Governments need to develop what some contributors to the GCN study call ‘a robust pipeline of financing from government, the financial markets and international institutions’ to ensure that low-carbon technologies have the necessary investment and capital. • Low carbon skills and training. Training is critical to the development of low-carbon sectors and the first step should be creating a low-carbon skill and training strategy. National governments or appropriate agencies need to identify the likely skills gaps that might occurbe if wider low-carbon industrial strategies are persued.
Besides the job opportunities that a low-carbon economy could promise South Africa and Nigeria, the report also outlined potential job opportunities in Australia, China, Germany, India, the UK and the US, adding up to approximately 20-million jobs in total for GCN member states.
• Adjustment policies. Although the shift to a low-carbon economy will create more jobs, there will be losers. Staff needs to be retrained and firms need to be helped in order to orientate their business towards greater efficiency.
Four recommendations for government
The GCN listed four conclusions and recommendations that governments must follow in order to create the job opportunities that have been mentioned:
The GCN is a collaboration of independent, influential and progressive research and policy organisations in countries key to tackling climate change. Members of the network aim to help governments clear a pathway towards an effective and fair international agreement for avoiding potentially dangerous climate change and by using data and analysis to persuade policymakers that climate change mitigation is in their best interest. The South African component of this research was undertaken by Imbewu Sustainability Legal Specialists, the local member of GCN.
• Clear, consistent and targeted government policy. Renewable energy targets, feed-in tariffs, economy-wide emissions reduction targets
For more information, visit www.globalclimatenetwork.info, to which full acknowledgement and thanks are given.
The expansion of demand for low-carbon energy will result in job creation, but this expansion will not happen accidentally: it will be driven by government policy, reads the report.
glasstec and solarpeq 2010
G
lasstec 2010 is taking place in Düsseldorf, Germany from 28 September – 01 October, 2010. This leading international trade fair covers the entire value chain of glass with all its facets, including glass machinery and equipment, construction, as well as the glazier trade. Visitors are expected from the following segments at glasstec and solarpeq: • Silicon production • Ingot production • Wafer production
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• • • • • • • •
Cell production (crystalline and thin-film) Module production (crystalline and thin-film) Components and process accompanying technology Measurement and testing technology/software Materials and aids Solar glass Research and development Services
To book your space as an exhibitor at glasstec and solarpeq 2010, visit www.glasstec-online.com or www.solarpeq.com. For any questions you might have, please contact Ms. Lisa Kuntze on: Tel: +27 11 486 2775 or send an e-mail to lkuntze@germanchamber.co.za.
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Investing in renewable energy is a lucrative deal this year
I
nvestment opportunities in energy efficiencies and green technologies are the way to go in 2010, according to a report by the Deutsche Bank in the beginning of the year. The Deutsche Bank 2010 Investing in Climate Change report found that companies specialising in energy efficiency and renewable energy such as solar and wind outperformed their peers in 2009 and the gap is expected to widen in 2010. According to the report, climate change investment is growing rapidly relative to the broader market. Climate change sectors have already outperformed world benchmarks and the Deutsche Bank believes that the underlying regulatory framework will continue to support the theme’s strong long-term growth prospects. Kevin Parker, member of the Group Executive Committee and Global Head of Asset Management at Deutsche Bank, said that the growth opportunities for climate change investments may come as a surprise to anyone but the most seasoned climate change investors.
Investment opportunity of a lifetime “Although past performance is no guarantee of future performance, we
continue to believe in the long term trends of global demographic growth and increasing energy use (producing massive carbon emissions) that lead to global warming. The scientific evidence is clear, and grows ever more detailed, that we are perilously close to causing an irreversible and catastrophic change in the earth’s climate. The shift to a low carbon economy to mitigate global warming will require the creation of new technologies, industries and jobs on a massive scale. The absolute imperative to prevent climate change is therefore, I believe, the economic and investment opportunity of our lifetime,” commented Parker in the report. Instead of pointing out the failure of achieving an agreement at COP15, the report pointed to proliferating green policies at national levels. “What matters far more is that national and local governments all over the world are not waiting for a supra-national framework. They are already pushing ahead with their own policies that will do far more than international regulation in the short to medium term to stimulate private investment.” For more information, visit www.dbcca.com, to which full acknowledgement and thanks are given. Download the full report here: www.dbcca.com/dbcca/EN/_media/ OnvestingInClimateChange2010.pdf.
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nu clear energ y
g in n io s is m m o c e d fe a s The of nuclear plants Many nuclear plants are aging and an increasing amount of people are starting to pay attention to the timely planning for and safe and cost-effect implementation of nuclear plant decommissioning (www.iaea.org). 25° in Africa finds out what South Africa is doing in this regard.
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he high-level waste storage part of decommissioning is unknown from the point of view of safe storage for many tens of thousands of years. There are ideas, such as salt mines for nuclear storage, and some practices which have now been abandoned (such as the old Soviet habit of dumping reactors from ships into the sea). Currently, South Africa doesn’t have a plan,” says Tristen Taylor, Energy Policy Officer at Earthlife Africa. “The reality is that the decommissioning of a plant can’t be done by a single entity because there are so many factors to consider”. The Economics of Nuclear Power (www.nirs.org), a paper by Steve Thomas, professor at the University of Greenwich Business School who specialises in the economics and policy of nuclear power, states that conventionally, decommissioning is split into three separate phases: firstly, the fuel is removed and the reactor is secured (the time it takes to remove the fuel varies), secondly, the uncontaminated or lightly contaminated structures are demolished and removed, and thirdly, the reactor core is removed. The third phase is, according to Thomas, by far the most expensive and most technologically challenging, requiring remote robotic handling of materials.
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Thomas states that few commercial-sized plants have operated beyond a full life and been fully commissioned and the operations to decommission a plant have only been successfully demonstrated on small scale plants, leading the processes to be unproven on a large scale nuclear plant. Decommissioning is a package According to www.iaea.org, although individual techniques and methods for decommissioning have improved over the past few years, there is still a strong need to optimise project decommissioning as a package, rather than individual bits and pieces which is still the practice today. www.iaea.org expresses the need for the evolution of licensing processes of decommissioning as more experience is gained on large decommissioning projects. The transfer of standards, methods and know-how from developed countries to those having limited resources and experience in decommissioning also remains far from completion.
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What would it cost? “I estimate that it would cost roughly ZAR100-billion to decommission the Koeberg nuclear station. The reason why nuclear plant decommissioning is extremely expensive is because the waste is so radioactive and toxic. High level nuclear waste needs hundreds of thousands of years to be declared as safe and it seems like we are only starting to think about this now. Having a nuclear energy plant in South Africa just doesn’t add up if you consider all the decommissioning costs,” days Taylor. The costs of all the variable factors, such as supply and demand of experts, costs of specialised equipment, waste disposal strategies, actual levels of contamination at the plant, when it will be decommissioned, exchange rates are all difficult to predict twenty to forty years from now, as the British have found out. The entire decommissioning period could take up to 135 years, which makes costs very hard to calculate,” says Taylor. “Having a The 1998 White Paper on Energy for South Africa, states: “Government policy is to remove distortions and encourage energy prices to be as cost-reflective as possible. To this end prices will increasingly include quantifiable externalities”.
The Minister of Public Enterprises was also asked whether the required skills for decommissioning these plants are available to Eskom and, if not, how will Eskom access these skills? The Minister of Public Enterprises summed up the required skills for decommissioning as follows: • Eskom staff (project management, nuclear engineering, radiation protection, etc). • The original equipment manufacturer. • Contractors who specialise in decommissioning (international for nuclear and local for conventional non-nuclear buildings). Van Zyl De Villiers, General Manager of Research and Development at NECSA (South African Nuclear Energy Corporation), does not believe that there are only vague answers when it comes to nuclear plant decommissioning.
nuclear energy
plant in South Africa just doesn’t add up if you consider all the decommissioning costs.”
In a statement released by the Department of Public Enterprises in June 2009, Mr S C Motau (Democratic Alliance) asked the Minister of Public Enterprises, Barbara Hogan, what Eskom’s estimate of the total cost for decommissioning Koeberg 1 and Koeberg 2 and how these amounts are made up. According to the statement, Koeberg unit 1 decommissioning cost is estimated at ZAR937-million and Koeberg unit 2 at ZAR1,184-million. These amounts are made up of preparatory studies, including assessments required by the nuclear regulatory and the environmental authorities, decontamination activities, decommissioning activities (both radioactive and non-radioactive infrastructure) and site rehabilitation/ restoration activities. Taylor, however, believes that the decommissioning costs are not only immeasurable, but it also leads to a distraught perspective of what nuclear energy costs. “Nuclear energy is easily the most expensive way to produce energy. It has to be heavily subsidised and there are many more viable options when it comes to energy solutions for Africa. The decommissioning cost of a nuclear plant is not quantified, which also means that the cost of nuclear energy as we know it is not the true cost of nuclear energy.” Thomas writes that the uncertainty regarding the costs of decommissioning is reflected in the way that estimates of nuclear decommissioning costs are quoted. “Typically, they are quoted as a percentage of the construction cost (perhaps 25%). Given that the cost of decommissioning clearly only bears a limited relationship to the cost of construction, this illustrates how little is known of the costs.” And who is paying? According to Thomas, under all methods used to estimate the cost of nuclear decommissioning, if the costs are underestimated, there will be a shortfall of funds that future taxpayers will have to pay.
“The costs are not unquantifiable and a wide range of nuclear reactors, similar to that of Koeberg, have been decommissioned overseas,” says De Villiers. “There are experienced people who are able to decommission a nuclear plant, maybe not in South Africa, but definitely overseas. These people would be brought to South Africa to lend us their expertise if Koeberg needed to be decommissioned.”
De Villiers believes that South Africans should not be worried about nuclear plant decommissioning because plants that come to the end of their life can be effectively decommissioned. Moreover, at present the lifetime of the country’s nuclear plants are more likely to be extended, rather than them being decommissioned. “Nuclear plants typically have a 40 year operating lifetime and a risk analysis of the plant is done every ten years. Nuclear power plants from all over the world are more likely to have their licenses extended rather than decommissioned. It’s true that there are many costs involved in building a nuclear power station and decommissioning it, which is exactly why they should be operated for a long as this can be done economically and safely,” explains De Villiers.
“The cost of nuclear energy as we know it is not the true cost of nuclear energy.” “There is currently a global phenomenon that nuclear power plants are being upgraded to operate much longer than originally intended when the plant was built – safety and economic viability are the foremost concern when ensuring that a nuclear plant can operate as long as possible. People should remember that the nuclear industry is heavily regulated, which should give people more confidence in the precautions and safety measures that are taken when extending a plant’s lifetime or decommissioning a plant,” says De Villiers. Facts from the World Nuclear Association • •
100 mines, 90 commercial power reactors, over 250 research reactors and a number of fuel cycle facilities, have been retired from operation. Some of these have also been fully dismantled. Most parts of a nuclear power plant do not become radioactive, or are contaminated at very low levels and most of the metal can be recycled.
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•
“The fact that security is a huge issue is probably the only thing
Earthlife and South Africa’s .” nuclear industry agrees on • • •
Proven techniques and equipment are available to dismantle nuclear facilities safely. These techniques and equipment have now been well demonstrated in several parts of the world. Decommissioning costs for nuclear power plants, including disposal of associated wastes, are reducing and contribute only a small fraction of the total cost of electricity generation. (www.world-nuclear.org)
According to Taylor, even though nuclear reactors have been shut down before, there is not a large body of practical experience on how to do it. “Nuclear plants have been shut down and dismantled, but Eskom has yet to shut down a reactor like Koeberg,” says Taylor. De Villiers says that overseas projects will be used to guide the decommissioning of Koeberg. “The Europeans recently launched a collaborative programme called Implementing Geological Disposal Technology Platform (IGP-TP) which, among other things, aims to have an operating geological waste disposal facility operating in Europe by 2025,” says de Villiers. “Such a programme will assist a lot in gaining a better understanding of technologies and costs of disposal by the time we need to decommission Koeberg.”
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Nuclear waste safety In a statement about the major tasks for 2010-2011 regarding nuclear plant decommissioning and waste by www.iaea.org, these objectives and tasks are listed as of paramount importance: • Revision of Safety Reports: Revise Safety Reports and TECDOCs documents on decommissioning to incorporate new Safety Requirements and revised Safety Guides guidance. • Regulations on decommissioning: Participate in WENRA’s Working Groups on Waste and Decommissioning on regulation on decommissioning and to bring the experience to other Member States. • Iraq decommissioning organisation: Organise the project on decommissioning of former nuclear facilities in Iraq. • Coordination project: Coordinate a CRP on planning, management and organisational aspects in decommissioning of nuclear facilities. • Online decommissioning training: Prepare video-based material for on-line training under the international decommissioning network (IDN). • National contribution: Contribute to national and regional TC projects on decommissioning. According to www.iaea.org, they need “to provide for the application of safety standards and use of good practices and proven and advanced methods and technologies in Member States in planning and implementing safe and costeffective decommissioning of nuclear facilities”. Besides the safety of nuclear waste and the costs of decommissioning a plant, Taylor believes that the security of the facilities is of paramount importance. “The fact that security is a huge issue is probably the only thing Earthlife and South Africa’s nuclear industry agrees on,” concludes Taylor. Sources: www.iaea.org, www.dme.gov.za, www.nirs.org, www.dpe.gov.za, www.world-nuclear.org.
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Westinghouse
signs MoU with SA engineering firm
On 23 February, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed by Westinghouse and DCD-Dorbyl for cooperation on its AP1000 reactor design which could lead to the production of AP1000 components in South Africa (www.world-nuclear-news.org).
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he agreement is a key milestone in a process that is expected to result in significant construction and export opportunities for potential South African supply chain partners. A significant percentage of the work and services required to build any new AP1000 unit could come from the South African supply chain,” reads a statement released by Westinghouse. The MoU covers areas such as design, production, fabrication and integration of AP1000 nuclear power plant modules; nuclear component manufacturing and supply chain development support. According to Rita Bowser, Westinghouse Regional Vice-President for South Africa, the partnership is key to South African government’s nuclear goals. “This partnership is a vital component in our ambition to bring the AP1000 to South Africa as part of the government’s drive to have new nuclear capacity coupled with manufacturing localisation. It represents a significant
step towards realising the major opportunity nuclear energy presents to RSA businesses and its economy as a whole,” said Bowser. The AP1000 has been designed to make use of modern, modularconstruction techniques. According to Westinghouse, factory-built modules can be installed at the site in a planned construction schedule of three years – from the pouring of first concrete to fuel loading. “We see the signing of this agreement as the first step to establish the manufacturing technology and expertise in South Africa,” says Louse Taljaard, managing director of DCD-Dorbyl. “This will auger well for our localisation ideals and at the same time provide DCD-Dorbyl the opportunity to become part of the global supply chain.” Source: www.world-nuclear-news.org. 25 o in A f rica
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electricity
Smart grids offer endless possibilities
“Don’t underestimate the cost of not doing anything about the decreasing electricity supply and rising electricity costs,” says Jonathan de Magalhães, Managing Director of Pre Plan Energy, a company that specialises in providing integrated renewable energy solutions to companies in Africa.
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peaking at a SANEA (South African National Energy Association) Conference at Sasol’s headquarters in Rosebank, Gauteng on 16 February, de Magalhães gave insights on what is possible in terms of experiencing true smart grids. “One of the main problems is the widespread attitude that we must wait for something to happen,” says de Magalhães before quoting world renowned author and journalist Thomas L. Friedman. “We are not going to regulate our way out of this problem; we can only innovate our way out.” The South African situation “With several of Eskom’s IPP and cogeneration programmes being placed on hold and the demand side management of claiming rebates for renewable energy becoming an administrative nightmare, people are struggling to move forward with finding other forms of energy and electricity,” says de Magalhães. “There are several growing pains in switching to renewable energy, but so much of what is being done to encourage this shift is ineffective. The renewable feed-in tariff doesn’t apply to smaller deployments, for example. Other initiatives, such as free CFL (Compact Florescent Lightbulbs) freely distributed with no information on correct disposal methods, can have a negative environmental impact, as the mercury content can easily contaminate our water supplies when the bulbs are discarded in our landfill sites.”
Jonathan de Magalhães, Managing Director of Pre Plan Energy
Why smart grids are the solution According to de Magalhães, smart grids embrace a distributed electrical generation model where full communication between the grid, mini-power plants and smart appliances, allows the grid to monitor the demand for electricity and automatically adjust household devices to effectively manage energy consumption - all by itself in real time. “Instead of building new coal-fired power stations, we need to find innovative ways to use the power that we already have. There are a range of possibilities about what this can do,” says de Magalhães.
“Electricity utilities should also be structuring their electricity prices the same way that cellular providers shape their call rates, and the cost per kWh must fluctuate according to the demand at any given time.” de Magalhães believes that the price of electricity should fluctuate by the minute according to peak demand. “Electricity utilities should also be structuring their electricity prices the same way that cellular providers shape their call rates, and the cost per kWh must fluctuate according to the demand at any given time. This way, as the installed generation capacity in a grid is fixed, personalised energy plans can be offered to consumers to make off-peak usage more attractive. If companies need to use a lot of electricity during peak energy times, they must pay accordingly.” Auto behaviour – taking smart grids one step further Smart grids will also start a chain reaction to the development of smart appliances and de Magalhães comments that this type of “auto behaviour” is where one of the major turning points in energy consumption will lie. “Appliances will have a smart chip built into them which you can set to have default values so that they have the ability to control themselves. The smart
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e l ectricit y
Smart grids could be the solution in which Africa will be able to take control of their resources and ensure a stable electricity supply into the future. grid will also be able to turn these appliances on and off at certain times to effectively manage energy peak demands without the consumer even noticing the difference,” explains de Magalhães. Changing the way we think about electricity “As the current supply capacity of the grid is relatively fixed, people who generate their own energy can then feed it back into the system and be compensated accordingly,” says de Magalhães. “Companies can also store energy in energy storage systems during the evening and then use this energy during the day when the more expensive peak tariffs apply. An emergency tariff can also be paid to surrounding power producers if emergency devices suddenly needed electricity. A suburb with a power outage could make use of potential stored energy connected to the smart grid to power traffic lights and alleviate chaos. All of this revolves around changing the way we think about using electricity. Energy and Solution Consultants must also start thinking “outside of the green box” to offer companies more creative ways of solving their energy challenges,” says de Magalhães. Realistic or futuristic? “The estimated cost for America to move to a smart grid system is $400-billion,” says de Magalhães. “I know this type of project sounds futuristic now, but the development of smart grids has been going on for over ten years. It is something that needs to be developed now. For smart grids to be implemented in Africa, we need a power utility that charges the true cost of electricity in terms of available resources and the damage they cause to our environment, but we don’t have that here yet.” Quoting Thomas L. Friedman again, de Magalhães concludes that the Stone Age did not end because we ran out of stones, but because we forced ourselves to change, innovate and adapt. “There are many options available and we need to start moving towards what is already possible. Smart grids could be the solution in which Africa will be able to take control of their resources and ensure a stable electricity supply into the future.” Pre Plan Energy Tel: +27 11 908 2212 Fax: +27 11 908 2281 E-mail: info@preplanenergy.co.za Website: www.preplanenergy.co.za 25 o in A f rica
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One-stop energy efficiency,
a leading
safety supplier S
unFor Technologies, a reputable energy efficient, lighting and building safety company, has delivered a range of lighting and building solutions to numerous high profile clients. Their innovative product line, coupled with the expertise of their service delivery team, has benefited blue-chip companies such as SAB Miller, Anglo Platinum, GrowthPoint Properties, Harmony Gold, De Beers, Montecasino, Transnet and the Department of Public Works, among others. “A noteworthy portfolio of long-standing clients and reliable suppliers has helped us to become leaders in this nichè and evolving industry,” says Shannon Mey, Managing Director of SunFor.
SunFor is officially certified as a B-BBEE level 4 contributor by the Mosela Rating Agency and is a member of the Green Building Council SA and the South African Association of Energy Services Companies. “All SunFor products are pre-examined, hi-tech and sourced from high-quality rare earth materials,” concludes Mey. SunFor Technologies Tel: +27 11 791 5008 Fax: +27 86 612 4093 E-mail: shannon@sunfor.co.za Website: www.sunfor.co.za
SunFor Technologies’ product range consists of the following: • Photo Luminescent Materials (PLM) • High Power LED lighting • Solar LED • Energy saving T5 Retrofits “One of our larger projects includes the installation of LED lighting in Lagos and Ibadan in Nigeria. This project was a joint venture between SunFor, Pre-Plan Energy and Dako Power,” says Mey. “Besides LED street lights, we also supply LED safety products, LED tunnel lights, LED garden lights and a variety of other LED Lighting products. Typical applications for their use include hotels, conference rooms, residential and institution buildings, factories, offices, food displays – anything really. There are LED lighting solutions to suit basically any application.”
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Solar LED Lighting installed in Lagos and Ibadan, Nigeria.
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The Copenhagen Accord status and implications for SA Policy Development Andrew Gilder, IMBEWU Sustainability Legal Specialists (Pty) Ltd.
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he competing range of interests potentially to be affected by the phenomenon of global climate change is almost guaranteed to give rise to intense and often ferocious polemic on the subject. This was certainly the case prior to the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention (COP15), which was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December 2009. COP15 is already receding into the mists of legend as the COP which failed to achieve the much-anticipated legally binding agreement on the future of the international climate change regime. If one thought that climate change generated controversy before the COP, then the outcome of the meeting has only intensified and solidified positions on either side of the divide. For example, opinions can be found describing the Copenhagen Accord (the single most visible result of COP15), variously, as proof of the developed world’s intention to commit genocide against the developing world; and, the herald of a new geopolitical order. The former view tends to be less useful than the latter, particularly if one considers that the Accord is, in the absence of a clearer agreement on how the negotiations should progress, the main indicator of which issues negotiators should consider in the immediate future. One commentator has expressed the view that COP15 suffered from an overdose of “celebrity” and that the elevated expectations of a legally binding
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agreement were unrealistic considering the increasingly strong political overtones which were a feature of the negotiations from June 2009. In fact, the Accord is a highly politicised document and, in the absence of a legal agreement, certainly represents a political milestone if only for the reason that, after an absence from the process of eight years, the United States of America, now back on the climate change playing field, had an overt hand in crafting the text of the Accord. One veteran negotiator, Michael Zammit Cutajar (Maltese Climate Change Ambassador and Chair of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action under the Convention) has noted that if “ the Kyoto Protocol can be said to be the moment when greenhouse gas mitigation met the market, Copenhagen 2009 marked the spot where climate change met geopolitics” (Carbon Positive, 3 March 2010, www.carbonpositive.com). The intellectual origins of COP15 lie in the Bali Action Plan (BAP) which emerged from COP13, held on Bali, Indonesia, in December 2007. In terms of the BAP the Parties to the Climate Change Convention launched a two-year, comprehensive negotiation process to enable the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention through long-term cooperative action, in order to reach an agreed outcome and adopt a decision at COP15. COP15,
in fact, did reach an agreed outcome and did adopt a decision, the paltry text of which reads as follows: “The Conference of the Parties takes note of the Copenhagen Accord of 18 December 2009”. Without addressing the contentious manner in which the Accord came into being (in which South Africa played a part), it’s worth noting that COP decisions require the consensus of the 189 Parties to the Convention, and the procedural rules do not provide for voting in the event of deadlock. Consensus was elusive in respect of the Accord, hence the decision simply to “take note” thereof, which is a way for Parties formally to acknowledge the Accord’s existence without the Accord, itself, assuming the status of a COP decision. Yvo de Boer (the outgoing Executive Secretary of the Convention) is quoted as having said that “taking note is a way of recognising that something is there, but not going so far as to associate yourself with it. ” A clarification of the status of the Accord, released by the Secretariat, on 25 January 2010, states that since “ the COP neither adopted no endorsed the Accord, but merely took note of it, its provisions do not have any legal standing within the UNFCCC process even if some parties decide to associate themselves with it.” A Party can achieve “association” with the Accord via simple letter or by a verbal note for the reason that, in the absence of being a treaty instrument, there is no formal process for Parties to “sign” the Accord. In respect of greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, the Accord: Endorses the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol and recognises climate change as one of the greatest challenges of our time, emphasising the need for strong political will to combat climate change in accordance with the Convention’s principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. • Recognises the scientific view that the increase in global temperature should be below 20C, that deep cuts in global emissions are required according to science; and, agrees that cooperation in peaking global and national greenhouse gas emissions should begin as soon as possible, noting that low-emission development strategies are indispensable to achieving sustainable development. • Anticipates that developed countries should commit to economy- wide emissions targets for 2020 the details of which to be submitted to the Secretariat by 31 January 2010 with the intention for such actions to strengthen the existing targets of such countries under the Kyoto Protocol. • Anticipates that developing countries should implement nationally appropriate mitigation actions to slow growth in their carbon emissions, submitting details of these to the Secretariat by 31 January 2010.
In reaction to the last point, South Africa addressed a letter to the Secretariat, dated 29 January 2010, in which it indicated that the country will take nationally appropriate mitigation action to enable a 34% deviation below the Business As Usual emissions growth trajectory by 2020 and a 42% deviation below the Business As Usual emissions growth trajectory by 2025. This statement of South Africa’s national ambition in regard to mitigation is likely to be elaborated in the Green Paper on climate change policy, which is expected from government by June 2010 and which will be subjected to stakeholder engagement for the period up to the end of the year. Government intends finalising a White Paper by the end of 2010 with a view to implementing a fiscal, legislative and regulatory packaged on climate change by 2012. Notwithstanding South Africa’s domestic intentions and timetable, the international negotiations continue with the next round of talks scheduled from 9 to 11 April 2010, in Bonn, Germany. The Copenhagen Accord, which is not currently formally part of the negotiation process, and Parties’ actions undertaken (or not) in accordance with its provisions, will be the subject of intense scrutiny in the period between now and then. The last word on the Accord is left to Mr. Zammit Cutajar who has said: “Whatever one’s view of a desirable outcome at Cancún (COP16 will be held in Mexico in December 2010), the transfusion of elements of the Copenhagen Accord” into the formal UNFCCC negotiating process is the name of the game for 2010. COP17 is scheduled to occur in South Africa at the end of 2011. For the text of the Copenhagen Accord go to: www.unfccc.int. IMBEWU Sustainability Legal Specialists (www.imbewu.co.za) is a specialist sustainability legal consultancy providing professional legal consultancy services in the area of environmental, health & safety and climate change law. IMBEWU runs a Climate Change and CDM Specialist Consultancy Unit with the greatest depth of expertise and experience in the South African carbon market. IMBEWU collaborates with Warburton Attorneys (www.warburtons.co.za) in providing CDM project development and contract advice to clients. This article should not be regarded a comprehensive discussion of the topics addressed, and should not be taken as legal advice or relied upon. Those seeking to participate in climate change-related activities are advised to seek specific legal advice. Contact: andrew@imbewu.co.za.
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EU Commission approves Amflora starch potato The European Commission approved Amflora, BASF’s genetically optimised starch potato, for commercial application in Europe. According to BASF, the potato can now be used for the production of industrial starch.
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“The way is now clear for commercial cultivation of Amflora this year,” explains Peter Eckes, President of BASF Plant Science. “Amflora will strengthen the international position of the European potato starch industry.”
The process for approving Amflora was initiated more than 13 years ago with the request for authorisation submitted in August 1996. The scope of the application included cultivation, industrial use and the use of pulp as feed.
fter waiting for more than 13 years, we are delighted that the European Commission has approved Amflora,” says Stefan Marcinowski, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE. “We hope, that this decision is a milestone for further innovative products that will promote a competitive and sustainable agriculture in Europe.”
Pure amylopectin starch Amflora produces pure amylopectin starch used in certain technical applications and food use for this plant is not foreseen. It was developed in collaboration with experts from the European starch industry in order to respond to the demand for pure amylopectin starch.
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the approval process for Amflora
During the so-called moratorium on genetically modified products between 1998 and 2004, no approvals for genetically modified plants were granted in the European Union (EU). BASF Plant Science resubmitted a dossier for cultivation and a dossier for food and feed use in 2003 and 2005, respectively, due to modified EU regulations.
Conventional potatoes produce a mixture of amylopectin and amylose starch. For many technical applications, such as in the paper, textile and adhesives industries, pure amylopectin is advantageous, but separating the two starch components are uneconomical.
In 2006, the EU Commission published two EFSA assessments that for both dossiers concluded that Amflora is as safe as conventional potatoes for humans, animals and the environment.
The industry will benefit from high-quality Amflora starch that optimises industrial processes: it gives paper a higher gloss, and concrete and adhesives can be processed for a longer period of time. This reduces the consumption of energy, additives and raw materials such as water.
In November 2006, the then responsible EU-Commissioner, Stavros Dimas, forwarded his proposal for authorisation of cultivation of Amflora to the Regulatory Committee consisting of representatives from all EU Member States.
BASF Holdings South Africa (Pty) Ltd Tel: +27 11 203 2422 Fax: +27 11 203 2430 E-mail: petra.bezuidenhout@basf.com Website: www.basf.co.za
After two inconclusive votes in the Regulatory Committee in December 2006 and the Council of Agricultural Ministers in July 2007, Commissioner Dimas failed to adhere to the approval procedure defined by EU legislation and did not adopt the proposal for cultivation.
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The reality of rising electricity costs is much more than a far-off threat and, for many South Africans, the reality of tariff hikes is finally hitting home. Companies, institutions and individuals need to find alternatives in order to save money and the environment and EQS Energy, an Energy Efficiency company, offers tailor made solutions to meet these needs.
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QS Energy’s service portfolio includes power factor analysing, lighting and air conditioning inspection and auditing as well as the installation and maintenance of their client’s energy solutions. EQS specialises in retrofitting existing buildings with the latest state of the art energy efficient technology.
CENTRON is compatible with all diesel, bio-fuels and petrol blends and it offers transport companies the opportunity to realise a reduction in both operational cost as well as their carbon footprint, amongst other benefits.. Social upliftment and business opportunities
Energy innovation technologies include: • Power factor correctors: 10-40% savings (more in certain conditions). • Motion sensors: up to 65% savings. • Inefficient air conditioner retrofits: up to 40% savings. • Walk-in fridge retrofits: 10-40% savings. • Geyser controllers and blankets: 10-40% savings. • T5 fluorescent tube replacements: up to 70% savings and is 30% brighter watt for watt with increased life span. • Converting magnetic fluorescent ballast to electric ballast: up to 15% savings.
Partners in EQS Energy and GTS Energy Solutions’ business are involved in many social responsibility opportunities and charities, including orphans homes, crèches, a VCT centre, a centre for the disabled, an HIV/Aids clinic, a library and more as part of the Pride ‘n Purpose program. This program works on a non-profit basis and is committed to the upliftment of disadvantaged communities.
Tax and green building incentive schemes have only just begun in South Africa and there is an increasing amount of negotiations between government, private stakeholders and energy companies in order to decrease the amount of electricity used and green the environment. The potential savings of EQS Energy’s technologies enable the products to pay for themselves with an inviting Return on Investment– take action to start saving now! Transport and logistics solutions GTS Energy Solutions, which has partnered with EQS Energy, provides the ultimate solution to meet higher standards of efficiency and environmental performance within the mining, transport and logistics industry. CENTRON Diesel Fuel Additive is a patented blend of environmentally safe materials that is SABS approved plus U.S. EPA registered and third party tested. The product is underwritten CENTRON works as a catalyst during combustion to burn fuel more efficiently and more completely resulting in increased fuel economy, reduced vehicle operating costs and improved air quality. The economic and environmental impact is supported by seven years of field trials and over 480-million vehicle kilometers resulting in an average fuel saving exceeding 15%, up to a 50% + carbon emission reduction.
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The business partners are now taking their social responsibility programs a step further by starting a youth development initiative. In 2009, the partners approached the graduates from the Branson Centre for Entrepreneurship to become agents for their energy solutions. These pupils were supplied with products, business leads; technical training and they are backed by an expert support team in order to give them new skills and business opportunities. EQS Energy Tel: +27 861 5444 54 E-mail: sales@eqsenergy.com Website: www.eqsenergy.com
Reduce your usage, save money and be part of the solution! e NERGY EFF I C I ENC Y
Eliminate energy wastage and reduce electricity bills with tailor made turnkey solutions from EQS Energy. Don’t pay for power you don’t use! Power factor correction, geyser controllers, occupancy sensors for lighting control, aircon power savers, retrofit florescent light solutions and installations and geyser blankets are only some of the solutions we have to offer. Make your environment as efficient as possible and you will reap the rewards.
Transport companies – achieve your financial and environmental goals!
Reduce repair costs, toxic exhaust emissions and comply with clean air laws by using CENTRON Diesel Fuel Additive, an SABS approved blend of environmentally materials that enables your petrol or diesel vehicle burn fuel more efficiently. • • •
•
CENTRON pays for itself with fuel savings Prolongs useful life of equipment Dramatically decreases Hydrocarbons (HC), Particulate Matter (PM), Nitrous Oxides (NOx) Opacity (black smoke) and Sulfur Dioxide by up to 50% Enhances power and performance
Give your engine Clean Fuel and it will run forever!
Know your limits with a personal breathalyzer
Drinking and driving is a major problem in South Africa and being caught over the legal driving limit has serious consequences – fines, jail, deduction of driving points and accidents. The only way to know your alcohol level is to self-test with a Redline breathalyser before you drive!
Internationally certified disposable breathalyser
Redline 25 o in A f rica
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eNE R G Y E FFIC IEN C Y
Call for SANEA Energy Awards nominations The South African National Energy Association (SANEA) continues to honour and celebrate the achievements of companies, organisations and individuals that are making an effort to ensure and contribute to a sustained and healthy South African Energy Sector. The prestigious SANEA banquet and awards ceremony will be held on the 26th of August 2010 and the closing date for candidate nominations is Friday, 28 May 2010. A changing industry Many individuals and companies have worked together to make significant contributions towards the development of South Africa’s changing energy sector. Some of these are high profile and have become household names while many are the hard working “behind the scenes” type who quietly get on and deliver. All are important to the development of South Africa. These are the individuals, organisations and companies that SANEA would like to recognise for their efforts to promote and provide a secure
Founded in 2001, EcoDrive SA and EcoLight Distributors SA were started with the sole goal of looking at ways to reduce energy. In their quest for other energy efficient products, they uncovered a niche market in the retrofit arena whereby existing light fittings are reused, without the need for rewiring or replacing perfectly usable parts. The EcoLight retrofit offers reduced downtime, greatly reduced disposal and waste and minimal disruption to working environment with instant electrical savings. It also offers economy and advanced modes. Proven success EcoLight have demonstrated their products to numerous companies over the last three years in order to prove their benefits and ease of fitment. They have also conducted extensive tests which show the quality and lifespan of the products as well as how the units fit in with South African and international standards. Some of their test lighting sites are now running in excess of four years and numerous orders have resulted from such tests.
energy future for the benefit of all. These are the individuals and organisations that deserve to have their role recorded in the history of the South African Energy Sector. Awards categories: SANEA Energy Award (Individual or Corporate) SANEA Energy Project Award (Individual or Corporate) SANEA Recognition Award SANEA Service Award SANEA Energy Journalism Award SANEA Energy Education Award Candidates can be nominated for awards in more than one category. The awards are designed to generate public interest in the Energy Sector. The aim is to inspire innovation and actions to address future energy needs in a sustained and responsible manner. For a full list of category criteria, nomination forms and other information, visit www.sanea.org.za or email saritac@mweb.co.za.
A holistic service • • • • • •
Evaluation and advice on how to reduce the electrical charge. Instant savings on your lighting bill. Evaluation of possible savings prior to investment. Guaranteed return on investment. With overseas back up, they are able to tailor make products for difficult and unique applications. They continue to re-invent the product and themselves in order to keep up with new developments and designs.
Customers that use EcoLight include such leaders as Anglo Coal, Scaw Metals, Development Bank, Ekurhuleni Municipality and Prismaflex. Please contact Kevin (+27 82 854 5536) or Frank (+27 82 788 9585) today for retrofit solutions that make business sense.
New developments Solar lighting systems for the home and commercial properties, which are manufactured in South Africa by EcoLight SA and can be customised to suit requirements, as well as LED systems for Industrial lighting promising great reductions in the lighting bill.
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PowerBoss & EcoLight SA Tel: +27 11 021 3105 Fax: +27 86 672 3839 E-mail: sales@ecolight.za.com Website: www.ecolight.za.com
Q: Want to improve your bottom line??? e NERGY EFF I C I ENC Y
A: Get Cambridge Energy Efficiency Solution to help you save and stop wastage!!! “IMPROVED BOTTOM LINE WITH CAMBRIDGE”
PROACTIVE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM™
Cambridge Energy Efficiency Solution introduce the Proactive Energy Management System™ for the control of commercial building lighting systems. Cambridge creates considerable savings of up to 65% of the total cost used in lighting for its customers. Reduced consumption of electricity by the lighting system will create a massive savings on the overall electricity bill. • • •
Helping customers achieve maximum profitability by reducing the operating cost of their facilities. Providing outstanding customer service and support before, during and after installation. Helping Our Planet/continent conserve energy, prolong its energy supplies and avoid usage penalties.
Our approach: 1. Lighting Efficiency Audit. 2. Retrofitting. 3. Supply and installation of occupancy sensors. Lighting efficiency Audit 1. Physical counting of lights in the entire building including external lighting as well. 2. Installation of data loggers for 10 working days. 3. Investigation on the right consumer demand rate tariff the client should be on. 4. Lighting layout for maximum efficiency. Retrofitting The replacement of inefficient luminaires, bulbs, and street lights, down lights, whatever lighting application that’s not recommended for maximum efficiencyy will be replaced with the latest technology for maximum energy consumption.
The electronic ballasts are about 30% more efficient than magnetic (wire wound ballasts) as they do not heat up like the magnetic versions (heat is energy). Supply an installation of occupancy sensors How does it work??? When you walk into a room the sensor detects you and turns the lights and air-conditioning on. Each sensor has a built in timer (which is adjustable) defaulted to 10 minutes. When there is no movement detected by the sensor the timer starts counting down. If any movement is detected before the timer gets to zero, the timer resets and starts counting down again. As soon as there is no motion detected for 10 minutes the lights and air-conditioning are shut off. It’s like having an invisible person walking behind you turning off the lights when you leave. Who are we; • 100% Black owned and managed company. • Our company was established in 2007. • A SAAEs member (South African Association of Energy Services). • Demand Site Management partner for Philips. • Conducted over 5000 retrofits. • Installed over 2500 occupancy sensors to date.
“The green revolution starts with you!!!” Contact Cambridge Energy Efficiency Solution to start saving now. Seboka Maphiri Tel: 082 801 7444 | Fax: 086 613 8842 | Email: seboka.maphiri@cambridge-energy.co.za
Website: www.cambridge-energy.co.za 25 o in A f rica
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eNE R G Y E FFIC IEN C Y
the
FIFA
2010 World Cup South Africa’s carbon footprint for this year’s World Cup is predicted to be almost ten times the carbon emissions of the 2006 World Cup, hosted by Germany, according to a recent study commissioned by the Norwegian government, raising concerns about the environmental impact of this event.
D
uPont, the global leader of market-driven science, is urging South African businesses and government to implement steps to reduce the carbon footprint of this soccer extravaganza, leading one to ask what type of steps have already been taken? “Greening 2010” The World Cup Organising Committee, the Department of Environmental Affairs and host cities have further launched a Greening 2010 framework, which includes waterless urinals in the stadiums, irrigating the pitches with non-drinkable water, and reducing waste through the use of reusable cups and limited food containers.
“Making flags, banners, posters and match schedules from a durable, but yet recyclable, material has manifold advantages. Choosing a chemically manufactured recyclable material with properties similar to paper will enable these items to be re-used throughout the knock-out rounds of the tournament, instead of reprinting them for each game. In addition, waste material can be broken down and re-used,” says Moyo before adding other sustainability efforts are also at the event organiser’s disposal. “Other important areas of focus include waste, energy, transport, water, biodiversity and responsible tourism, as well as job creation and public communication and education.”
“There are many opportunities to reduce emissions at such a large-scale event. Surprisingly, it is often the simplest solutions that are the most effective,” says Moyo.
The first draft of the Greening 2010 framework, which was released by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism on 1 September 2008, states that: “Because this event will be a major item on the local and global stage, it provides unique opportunities for furthering the sustainable development agenda, through showcasing good environmental practices in areas such as waste reduction and processing, energy efficiency, efficient public and non-motorised transport, carbon emission reduction, efficient use of water, protecting and enhancing biodiversity, and responsible tourism. Greening 2010 forms an integral part of our response to adapting, as a nation, to the challenges of global climate change and more sustainable growth and development.”
DuPont has been involved in assisting organising committees and governments implement more efficient and sustainable technologies at other
For more information, visit www.dupont.co.za, to which full acknowledgement and thanks are given.
Carlman Moyo, Director for the Sub-Saharan Africa region of DuPont, believes that while these efforts are to be applauded, there are additional measures that both businesses and government can implement to reduce the carbon footprint of the event.
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global sporting events, such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics. According to Moyo, one key way to reduce the carbon footprint is by ensuring that 100% recyclable materials are used wherever possible.
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e NERGY EFF I C I ENC Y
who cares?
Using green products in homes:
A
recent online survey by the Whirlpool Corporation shows that the majority of consumers (68%) want to live “green” but only if it’s convenient to their lifestyle. The study, conducted on its behalf by Harris Interactive®, found that while finances are top of mind and consumers are still on the hunt for a good bargain, many are unwilling to compromise and they will continue to search for the right product at the right price.
The survey shows that consumers are becoming more and more savvy about how best to spend – and save – their hard-earned money, with over half the adults (59%) saying they would rather spend more money now to save energy (and money) later when it came to home appliances. Monica Teague, senior manager brand business teams, Whirlpool Corporation, says that as consumers begin to adopt a greener lifestyle, the concept moves from trend to norm and that the company wanted to see if the collective mindset was shifting. “We also know that people are still watching their wallets. What we discovered is that consumers want the easiest path toward efficiency and cost-savings, and will not compromise until they find it,” said Teague. According to Dane Spear, a Director of Greenfan (www.greenfan.co.za) is an online catalogue of green products for both the built environment and day-today living), South Africans are starting to see the advantage of buying energy efficient products.
“People with long-term savings in mind are starting to shift to green products,” says Spear. “Some of these products, such as solar water heaters, require a large capital expenditure up, but people are starting to realise the difference it will make in the long run to start investing in these products now. Eskom’s solar water heating rebate has already made a significant boost in the industry.” When it comes to Eskom’s forecasted electricity price hike, Spear believes that it’s not yet a reality to the majority of consumers. “I think the general public is under the impression that only large commercial companies are going to be affected by the electricity price hikes, but it is going to make electricity expensive for everyone.” According to the aforementioned survey, 53% of consumers believe the refrigerator uses the most energy in the home. “Geysers are the one of the most significant energy consuming product in a household. A lot of education still has to be done concerning green products because not only is there a myriad of false information available, but also a lot of low quality products that are being imported that people should look out for,” concludes Spear. Greenfan’s social network discusses these issues and other green news in more detail (www.greenfan.ning.com). Sources: www.newscom.com, www.whirlpoolcorp.com, www.greenfan.co.za.
The Natural Alternative
Egoli Gas (Pty) Ltd 1 Annet Road, Cottesloe, Johannesburg, 2092 Private Bag X10, Auckland Park, 2006 Tel: 011 356 5000
Fax: 086 557 6672
e-mail: cservice@egoligas.co.za
www.egoligas.co.za
Piping NATURAL GAS from planet EARTH to JHB’s doorstep! The natural alternative for cleaner pastures.
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eNE R G Y E FFIC IEN C Y
South Africa’s
showcased in Switzerland T
he Geneva International Motor Show in Switzerland, which runs from March 4 to 14 2010, will be showcasing South Africa’s very own allelectric car – the Joule. The Joule on show at this event is a plug-in, zero emission vehicle and the design and layout gives a strong indication of the final design that goes on sale early in 2013. The car is hand-built in Port Elizabeth and although it only goes on sale in 2013, South African motorists can also expect to spot it on our roads within months as a fleet takes to our roads to gather technical feedback on the car and also to gauge public response. Technical details The key design goals of the Joule include a range of 300 kilometres based on the UDDS cycle, a genuine freeway cruising capability, seating for five, a 5-Star NCAP safety rating and an on-sale price starting from ZAR235 000 in today’s retail terms. The vehicle has an advanced 36 kWh traction battery, consisting of 15 modules, each module containing 30 Lithium-ion cells. The battery provides power to a synchronous permanent magnet motor capable of generating 65 kW of power and torque of 280 Nm. An on-board charger which is integrated and ensures that no external charging infrastructure is required and that charging can be synchronised with off-peak electricity. The roof of the Joule also has an optional photo-voltaic solar panel in order to ensure that Joule takes advantage of all potential power sources. The Joule was originally designed by South African-born Keith Helfet and Cape Town-based firm, Optimal Energy and refined by Zagato’s Total Design Centre. The first spark of an idea for a home-grown zero emissions vehicle started in 2005.
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“We’re extremely excited about Joule being displayed at Geneva,” comments Optimal Energy CEO, Kobus Meiring. Optimal Energy is the only local automotive manufacturer focused exclusively on electric cars for the mass market. “With Optimal Energy, South Africa now also has its own OEM. The EV market is expected to grow exponentially over the next decades, and owning an EV brand will increase South Africa’s role substantially. It is Optimal Energy’s vision to lead the EV industry in South Africa and to expand globally, and as a flexible company with no legacy investments in outdated technologies, we have the opportunity to position Joule uniquely in an awakening market.” Optimal Energy Tel: +27 21 462 7804 Fax: +27 21 462 7802 E-mail: Jaco.vanLoggerberg@optimalenergy.co.za Website: www.optimalenergy.co.za
e NERGY EFF I C I ENC Y
Off-grid Welcome Centre for the DBSA I
nstead of filling more urban space when building, the new Welcome Centre at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) in Midrand, decided to keep energy efficiency, architecture and landscape in the forefront of their minds. Architects Holm Jordaan Group built the new Welcome Centre to look like a continuation of the landscape, disguising itself as Highveld savannah with its functions neatly tucked underneath and merging wall and roof into a single entity. Another noteworthy distinction of the building is that it is completely off-grid and CO2 neutral.
Energy master plan Aligned with both international thinking and local circumstances, the DBSA manages its energy usage with a comprehensive energy master plan. The DBSA notes that the reason for this energy master plan is threefold: to ensure energy security, to reduce energy cost and to promote responsible development. According to the DBSA, imminent developments along neighbouring sites (such as the forthcoming Pan-African parliament) will continue to pressurise the near-by sub-station, further prompting the architects green thinking. Earth excavation offers temperature control system opportunity Collapsing soil conditions on site necessitated the earth to be excavated to a depth of approximately 3 m and replaced with suitable material. This deep excavation offered a cost-effective opportunity to use the earth’s constant temperature as a control system: Fresh air supply is drawn into the building via underground pipes, thereby pre-heating the air in winter and pre-cooling it in summer.
Natural light permeates the small building, while artificial high-efficiency lights further reduce energy demand and heat gain. A solar water heater provides warm water for under floor warmth in winter and all year domestic hot water. The building further relies on photovoltaic energy from 30 kWp panels. These churn out electricity from sunlight without polluting the air, soil or water. The Bank also intends to build a further 1 MW photovoltaic plant to ultimately service the whole campus. According to the energy specialist of the Welcome Centre, Henning Holm from Omnibus Engineering, energy use will be a fraction of that of a conventional building of the same size. Their vital statistics for the Welcome Centre include the following: Energy efficiency of the Welcoming Centre Solar hot water plant: • 34 m2 solar vacuum collector • 1 600-litre storage tank • 240 m2 under floor heating Solar photovoltaic plant: • 29.4 kW solar panels • Producing 54 248 kWh/annum
• Battery storage = 217,7 kWh • Equals all electricity requirements for the building Energy efficiency: Demand has been reduced through efficiency from 38.4 kVA to 9.96 kVA
For more information, visit www.holmjordaan.co.za, to which full acknowledgement and thanks are given. Holm Jordaan Architects & Urban Designers Tel: +27 12 460 3226/7/8 Fax: +27 12 346 4168 E-mail: gerrit@holmjordaan.co.za
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CDM
SA business
going green – 92% of South African businesses favour more environmental tax incentives, 55% feel the current criteria for these are too tough and
government
to take the lead
73% feel that current government policies relating to tax, incentives, or trading schemes are ineffective in encouraging businesses to significantly change behaviour.
A
lthough 88% of executives globally feel that the money raised from environmental taxes and regulation should be directly ploughed back into green projects is very important, only 31% are confident this will happen. These are some of the findings of a report, called Appetite for Change: The Global business perspectives on tax and regulation for a low carbon economy published by PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) in March. The report takes an in-depth look into the attitudes of the international business community towards environmental legislation and taxes, conducting an astounding 700 interviews with executives from 15 countries to find out what their perspectives are regarding climate change, the role of government, preferred environmental policy tools and more. Carbon tax or trading scheme – what do different countries want? According to the report, opinion is split as to the best way of encouraging responsible environmental behaviour, with European executives leaning slightly towards carbon tax and North America, Brazil, South Africa, India and China favouring emission trading schemes. Copenhagen has proven the struggle of world leaders to develop effective environmental policies through consultation and many organisations in and out of government are frustrated about how long negotiations for environmental policies are taking. “The absence of clarity discourages investment in change and, as such, targets need to be sufficiently ambitious and backed by legally binding frameworks to be effective,” reads the report.
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Mark Schofield, PwC Global Sustainability and Climate Change Tax Leader
Kyle Mandy, Head of National Tax Technical and leader of the Sustainability and Climate Change Tax Practice for PwC
“This research contains a strong message of hope for those struggling to find a global consensus,” says Mark Schofield, PwC Global Sustainability and Climate Change Tax Leader. “Incentives, emissions trading schemes and even carbon taxes could win support in the business community. Political leaders who activate that potential have a good chance of creating historic solutions to the unprecedented challenges facing our ecosystem.” How South Africa’s executives differ from international views 77% of South African businesses (compared to 57% of businesses globally) do not believe that government has a consistent long-term environmental tax and regulation policy. Only 20% of South African businesses deem that government is effective at providing signals to businesses on the need to assess the environmental impact and energy use (as opposed to 44% effective globally). 33% of South African businesses believe that government should take the leading role in bringing about a shift in behaviour regarding climate change and 37% believe that business alone should be leading the way (44% of international executives feel this should be done by government).
C DM
While the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, China, Australia and India are more upbeat about the impact of government policies, the majority of South African businesses (55%) feel that current government policies relating to tax, incentives or trading schemes are ineffective. 72% of South African businesses would support carbon taxes as a means of encouraging the more efficient use of energy and reducing carbon emissions, compared to the 64% global support.
The impact of climate change to date on business Total Europe NAM BRIC
Why the huge differences?
Other
Only 20% of South African businesses expect significant changes in the way they conduct businesses, although 77% expect some change, and a further 50% of South African businesses consider environmental regulation to be an opportunity for business competitiveness. The 37% of South African businesses who feel that they should be primarily responsible for leading behavioural changes on climate change, is more than double the global average. Kyle Mandy, Head of National Tax Technical and leader of the Sustainability and Climate Change Tax Practice for PwC, says that South African businesses want to be involved in developing the policies that impact them. “Business leaders believe that stable, properly enforced policies protect fair competition and facilitate long-term planning which is vital for transition to a low carbon economy. However, businesses want to be involved and play a role in developing those policies,” says Mandy. Even though a high number of South African businesses believe they should be leading the way for environmental policy changes, 90% of them believe that government exerts a strong influence on environmental practices through legislation and regulation and 77% believe that regulation will be one of the most effective environmental policy tools. From a corporate point of view, the majority of businesses in South Africa and globally prefer emission trading schemes to carbon tax. A factor across all countries is that 88% of businesses recognise the need for meaningful emission targets. According to the report, businesses look to government for leadership when environmental policies are unclear and unstable. 93% of South African businesses, and 92% of businesses globally, believe that government needs
Factors influencing corporate behaviour Compliance, corporate reputation, costs and competition are the top 4 drivers Comply with legislation / regulation Manage corporate reputation Cost savings Competitive edge Keep up with competitors Tax incentives Lead the field Protect economic sustainability Manage exposure to taxes / levies Investor / shareholder pressure New business ventures Positive outcomes for cc & env Attract / retain staff
Don’t know
No impact at all
A fairly big impact
A very big impact
Not much of an impact
58% feel that climate change has had a very/fairly big impact on business to date and 84% of companies in South Africa see climate change as an issue.
What business is looking for Agree
The government needs to offer more incentives to support investment in environmentally beneficial activities, processes & new technologies
92%
Meeting criteria required by current tax incentives is too onerous to make the incentives woth applying for
55%
It is clear what tax incentives exist and how to apply for them
32%
Current tax incentives are sufficiently motivating to make businesses change behaviour
24% Don’t know
Strongly disagree
Slightly disagree
Slightly agree
Strongly agree
What business is looking for: 92% of business executives favour more incentives, but they feel that current incentives are unclear and insufficiently motivating to promote behaviour change.
to offer more incentives to support investment in environmentally beneficial activities, processes and new technologies in order to ensure ongoing sustainability of positive environmental changes in businesses. PricewaterhouseCoopers Tel: +27 11 797 4000 Fax: +27 11 797 5800 Website: www.pwc.com/za
What business is looking for All potential ideas have merit Three-quarters strongly desire to see a clear long term signal to business Important Sending a clear long-term signal to business that supports investment in clean technology Making financing available for green technology solutions within the next 6-12 months Setting emissions targets at national level that incentivise low carbon behaviours and policies Support for a global market mechanism
No influence at all
Very influential
Respondents were asked to indicate the influence of drivers that influence decision-making. Compliance, corporate reputation, costs and competition are the top 4 drivers.
Not at all important
Not very important
Fairly important
SOUTH AFRICA
EUROPE
96%
97%
95%
89%
93%
88%
88%
90%
84%
78%
83%
75%
Very important
Businesses want a clear, long-term signal that supports investment in clean technology. 93% of South African business executives believe financing for green technology would be an effective solution for the next 6 – 12 months.
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Interest in
CDP
in 2010
CDM
project growing
In February 2010, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) announced its eighth annual request for information on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategies to over 4 500 companies around the world. This year, companies will report to the CDP through an upgraded system, developed with Accenture, Microsoft and SAP, that will for the first time utilise the full power of online analysis tools to drive improved carbon management.
Investment risk and commercial opportunity The CDP, a global, independent, not-for-profit organisation, is the world’s largest institutional investor collaboration working to inform the global market place on investment risk and commercial opportunity. The number of institutional investors that signed CDP’s annual request for climate change information this year has risen from 475 in 2009, to a record 534 with a combined US$64-trillion of assets under management. Wells Fargo, BNY Mellon, Generali and the Industrial Bank of Korea are some of the new signatory investors.
“Measurement, reporting and verification of emissions is a vital step for organisations looking to increase awareness of the impact of climate change and improve the management of greenhouse gas emissions. The new reporting tools enable greater analysis of the CDP data to benchmark against peers and other sectors and geographies,” says Henk de Bruin, Head of Corporate Sustainability at Philips.
Continuing to act on interest in emerging markets
Performance leadership index
The CDP is continuing to act on investor interest in emerging markets with requests for information going to companies in the S&P/IFCI Carbon Efficient Index. For the first time, the CDP is writing to companies in Turkey, Peru, Morocco, Egypt and Israel as well as continuing to expand its coverage in areas such as Asia, Poland, Chile and Mexico.
The CDP is including a performance leadership index, developed in conjunction with its global advisor, PricewaterhouseCoopers, which was introduced as a pilot in 2009. The largest global companies reporting to the CDP will receive a performance score based on the actions they have taken to address climate change in a strategic manner incorporating such areas as emissions reduction targets, achieved and expected emissions reductions, governance structures and employee incentives. Companies that have had their data externally verified will also receive points, in order to drive greater levels of verification.
The CDP has built a new reporting system with world leading consulting and technology companies, Accenture, Microsoft and SAP to increase the quality of disclosure globally and drive greater use of corporate climate change information. An improved questionnaire process will facilitate greater levels of analysis and CDP is also providing new membership services for reporting companies that include access to comprehensive analytical tools which will increase knowledge and insight around corporate action on climate change.
CDP now operates in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Morocco, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UK, and USA.
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Some of the founding member companies that have piloted these new reporting tools include Con Agra, E.ON, Iberdrola, National Australia Bank, National Grid and Philips.
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The carbon performance leadership index is not going to replace the existing carbon disclosure leadership index, which assesses the quality of companies’ reporting and carbon management strategies, but rather complement it. “This is an exciting year for the CDP, with record levels of support from institutional investors. Our improved reporting system, new performance index, and greater global coverage will help us continue to increase transparency and awareness of corporate climate change action around the world which, critically, enables organisations to make performance improvements,” concludes the CDP’s Chief Executive Paul Dickinson. For more information, visit www.cdproject.net, to which full acknowledgement and thanks are given.
C DM
Tax or trade:
What are the appropriate carbon pricing options for South Africa?
By Mike Goldblatt
A
t the Copenhagen climate conference, South Africa made a conditional commitment to significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions which would result in reductions below the current baseline of 34% by 2020 and 42% by 2025. These reductions are ambitious and are unlikely to be met without some form of domestic market mechanism or carbon pricing system in place. In essence, carbon pricing means any regulatory system that ensures that a price for the emissions of greenhouse gases becomes embedded throughout the economy. A key argument for carbon pricing is that price signals rely on the flexibility of market forces, rather than direct regulation, to promote efficient emissions reductions. Policy options Carbon pricing is a special case of economic instrument for pollution control. Such instruments are typically divided into the two distinct options of taxes or emissions trading and these provide the major carbon pricing policy options: Carbon taxes are a ‘price instrument’ which directly establishes a price on greenhouse gas emissions. Emitters therefore face the full price of their emissions and take this into account in investment and output decisions. Emissions trading is a ‘quantity instrument’ which directly establishes an emissions quantity through a cap on emissions imposed on emitters. Emissions trading allows for emitters to trade their emission allowances and hence indirectly establishes a price on greenhouse gas emissions. The National Treasury has indicated that in the medium to long term, appropriate carbon pricing is an essential part of the climate change policy response and the Tax Policy Unit within the Treasury has been engaging with the Department of Environmental Affairs on developing a policy position for South Africa on carbon pricing. The recent budget statement indicated “government’s preference for a carbon tax” but noted that the policy option of domestic emissions trading was also under investigation. The difference between the approaches The implementation of either approach will have major economic impacts – changing relative prices of goods and services and having a variety of impacts on different sectors and on consumers at different income levels. Although under perfect information either option would create the same results and incentives, there is a fundamental difference between them in the real situation of uncertain information: Under a tax, the price is certain (although it may be too high or low) and the quantity outcome is what fluctuates. An incorrect price may lead to either an over-reduction or under-reduction in emissions. Under an emissions trading scheme, the quantity (cap) is certain and the price is what fluctuates. An incorrect cap may lead to much higher or lower prices than expected. Due to the importance of carbon pricing policy in the country’s response to
climate change mitigation the British High Commission has funded a research project examining these policy options. The research, conducted by PDG, has identified a number of criteria, in addition to the fundamental distinctions above, that can be useful in a developing country to compare the two policy options. These include: • Economic efficiency • Environmental effectiveness • Public finance considerations • Welfare impacts • Administrative complexity • Relationship to global greenhouse gas reduction In addition to these criteria, there are a range of South African specific considerations that have an important bearing on the approach chosen. South Africa has a highly concentrated energy market on both the demand and supply side which may well limit the development of a domestic emissions trading market. The intent to encourage independent power producers also tends to favour a carbon tax, which would not impose the same potential barriers to entry as a fixed emissions cap. A more fundamental concern with an emissions cap and trade scheme is the political will to ensure the continued implementation of such a scheme if, in practice, the ability of the economy to adapt was over-estimated and carbon prices rose sharply leading to economic disruption. If the business and power sectors did not believe that the cap would be enforced in under such circumstances, they would not implement the required investment to prepare for a carbon constrained future. On the other hand, the imposition of a carbon tax would provide no guarantees that the country would meet its stated emissions reduction objectives. Price certainty would be achieved at the expense of a certain environmental outcome. Hybrid policy instruments can be used to achieve some measure of balance between price and emissions certainty but the fundamental trade-off between the two remains in any policy chosen. A detailed comparison of the options has been conducted in the PDG research which tends to favour the use of a carbon tax instrument. However, the debate is complex and it’s hoped that the research will assist in policy development and in informing stakeholders in their response to government carbon pricing proposals. This paper is based on a larger research project, carried out by PDG and funded by the British High Commission, on carbon pricing options for South Africa. There will be seven papers published from this project which will be made publicly available at the conclusion of the project in June 2010. These papers address issues of carbon pricing, carbon taxation and domestic emissions trading from a South African perspective. PDG Tel: +27 11 482 9568 Fax: +27 11 482 9542 E-mail: mike@pdg.co.za Website: www.pdg.co.za 2 5 o in A f rica
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INSTANT UPDATE
Global Climate Network
launches drive for low-carbon economy In January 2010, a network of nine independent think tanks in high emitting countries, including in BASIC countries, launched a new initiative aimed at providing analysis for a low-carbon economy. Imbewu Sustainability Legal Specialists, South African member of the Global Climate Network (GCN), hosted the event. Britain’s High Commissioner, Her Excellency Dr Nicola Brewer, gave a keynote address which marked the first major address on climate change in South Africa since the Copenhagen summit ended
with a political accord. Brewer hailed the GCN as “vital” in the effort to build consensus and support for a transformation to low-carbon economic development. “The GCN is a ground-breaking initiative that brings together some of the world’s best brains on climate change to try and change the terms of the debate. It is our aim to demonstrate the opportunities for an economy like South Africa in pursuing a coherent, government-led framework to spur a low-carbon revolution,” said Andrew Gilder, director at Imbewu.
New president at SAAEs The South African Association of Energy Services Companies (SAAEs) elected Mr. Hope Mashele as its fourth and also its first black president at its Annual General Meeting held on 21 January 2010. Mr. Mashele is a professional engineer and currently National Energy Manager at Total Facility Management Company (TFMC).
Mr. Hope Mashele
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SAAEs were established in 2004 at the onset of the Eskom DSM programme with the purpose of
25 o i n Africa
acting as an industry voice for Energy Services Companies (ESCOs). Its aims are to develop the local energy services sector and to ensure a healthy ESCO business environment by creating an open forum between the various stakeholders. Mashele obtained his BSc (Elec Eng) degree at the Natal University, his DMM at UNISA and MAP at Wits Business School, is a registered Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and Certified Measurement & Verification Professional (CMVP) and serves
on the Council of the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE). He has also been officially nominated and endorsed by the SAIEE and the SAAEs to serve as a commissioner in Planning Minister Trevor Manuels National Planning Commission, representing the young professional, the engineering fraternity, the energy sector and the previously disadvantaged. Website: www.esco.org.za
I NS TA NT UP D ATE
Nigerian Government signs 215 MW Kaduna power plant deal A 215 MW dual thermal plant is set to be built in Kaduna, Nigeria, after the Federal Government signed a contract with General Electric Oil & Gas and Rockson Engineering Nigeria late in 2009. According to www.ngrguardiannews.com, the plant is expected to complement other hydropower plants in the northern part of Nigeria and it will use Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) and natural gas for operation. The Sales Manager of General Electric Oil & Gas, Mr. Victor Ekpeyong, stated that the scope of work includes the manufacturing and supply of eight General Electric Frame five dual fuel gas turbines in Florence, Italy and shipment to Nigeria, as well as the design, engineering, procurement of the balance of the plant, installation, construction, testing and coming of the entire project. The Nigerian minister of power, Dr Lanre Babalola, appealed to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to ensure reliable gas supply to the facility during the signing of the contract in Abuja.
Hydropower at Lake Kariba presents opportunities People looking to invest in hydropower in Zambia have been invited to participate in the creation of new hydropower plants or the further development of existing projects. One of these projects is situated on Lake Kariba.
The name of the project is Kariba North Bank and the project aims to add 2 X 180 MW units to the existing power station using the same reservoir and the estimated cost of the project is US$300-million. Fiscal incentives of investing in this project (which only apply to investors investing more than $500 000 in a priority sector) include suspended customs duty to zero for five years on machinery and equipment, exemption of dividends from tax for five years from the year of first declaration, company tax will only be charged on 50% of the profits earned for a period of five years starting with the first year of profitability and more. For more information, contact Florence Mumba, Director of Investment Promotion and Privatisation Zambia Development Agency at fmumba@zda.org.zm.
EIB bank to help finance power projects in Nigeria During a visit to the Nigerian Power Minister, Lanre Babalola, the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) vice president, Plutarchos Sakellaris dedicated his willingness to cooperate with Nigeria’s federal government in order to improve electricity supply in the country. According to an article that appeared in the Daily Trust, Sakellaris pledged that the EIB would
help finance power projects in Nigeria on a public-private partnership basis during this visit in the beginning of February 2010. According to Babalola, Nigeria has to achieve a generating capacity of about 30 000 megawatts in order for the country to achieve its objective of becoming one of the world’s 20 largest economies by 2020.
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INSTANT UPDAT E
Crucial academic support for previously disadvantaged learners Left: At a company presentation in Pretoria, SSI’s CEO Naren Bhojaram acknowledges the accomplishments of two students from Soshanguve High School who gained distinctions in the latest matric exams. As an added bonus, the students received laptop computers as an aid to assist them in their tertiary studies.
As a South African company, SSI is completely aligned to the aspirations of government in developing much-needed skills in the country. SSI has been in the forefront of training and development of its staff, a number of whom now occupy senior positions in government departments and other firms, and this has led to the introduction of the SSI Saturday Schools initiative that provides extra lessons initially to Grade 12 learners in the subjects of mathematics, physical science and engineering graphics and design. The Saturday School is the brainchild of SSI’s CEO, Naren Bhojaram, who for several years has been actively involved in the cause of bringing young learners from previously disadvantaged backgrounds back on par with the required academic standards. Learners are selected from a group who have shown affinity for a technical career and hence would want to do well in these subjects. Students are selected from government schools and are restricted to those who don’t have access to additional tuition facilities through non-availability or affordability issues. Therefore, scholars for the SSI Saturday School are largely sourced from previously disadvantaged schools.
By setting up a Saturday School, which provides free tuition to senior school learners in these fields, pass rates can be improved and school leavers with the necessary acumen can be directed towards a technical career. The Woodmead School was opened on 14 April 2007 and the initiative has been replicated at other major centres. As of March 2010, there are schools operating in six centres: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Bloemfontein, Pietermaritzburg and Cape Town. The results of this initiative are awesome: in 2009 Pretoria alone had 26 students, who obtained 16 distinctions and nine ‘B’ passes. Currently, more than 170 learners enjoy tutorship from SSI ‘teachers’ – drawn from the ranks of the company’s own professional staff. SSI is a multi-disciplinary consultancy that provides solutions for clients involved in infrastructure development. Its majority shareholder is the DHV Group, one of Europe’s leading engineering firms with representation in more than 30 countries. SSI Engineers & Environmental Consultants Tel: +27 11 798 6000 Fax: +27 11 798 6005 E-mail: corporate@ssi.co.za Website: www.ssi-dhv.com
The courses focus on the application of theory learnt during day school in answering examination papers and revising class work exercises. Where necessary, theory is taught to supplement that learnt in day school. The courses are aligned to the Department of Education’s syllabi for mathematics, physical science and engineering graphics and design. SSI sees this initiative as an addition to its programme of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives which builds on the firm’s legacy of a caring employer as echoed in its slogan: Linking People. Promoting Growth. It shares the government’s concern over student’s lack of interest and the poor pass rates in the mathematics, science and technology fields at school level is also its concern.
Learners, teachers and the administrator at the opening of SSI’s Saturday School Initiative in Durban in June 2009.
Visit to Helium test facility Gys Jacobs, Helium Test Facility Operations Manager (left), Marlene van Rooyen, Editor of 25° in Africa (middle) and Adrienne Brookbanks, journalist at 25° in Africa (right) at the Helium Test Facility (HTF). The Helium Test Facility (HTF)
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at Pelindaba (in the North West Province) is an experimental setup that is used to test support systems of the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor within a non-nuclear helium environment during the design phase.
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ENERGY EVENT S ENERGY EVENTS
March 2010
5th Annual African Biofuels
2010 C³: Climate Commerce Conference Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Date: 29 – 30 March 2010
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Contact: Sabrina Manikkam
Contact: Jason Chadwick
Tel: +27 11 325 6363
Tel: +27 11 771 7135
Fax: +27 11 325 6362
Fax: +27 11 880 6789
E-mail: sabrina@merchantec.co.za
E-mail: jchadwick@iir.co.za
Date: March – April 2010
April 2010 The Water Institute of Southern Africa
Green Building Conference 2010
Biennial Conference and Exhibition
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Location: Durban, South Africa
Date: 18 – 22 April 2010
Date: 29 – 30 April 2010
Website: www.greenbuilding.co.za
Tel: +27 31 303 9852 E-mail: thulisile@confco.co.za Website: www.wisa2010.org.za
May 2010 Eastern Africa Energy Week Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Introduction to Energy Management (IEMT) Date: 10 – 12 May 2010
Website: www.petro21.com
Location: South Africa
Date: 17 – 19 May 2010
Contact: Christina den Heijer Cell: +27 82 334 0923
GREENEX 2010 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Tel/Fax: +27 18 294 7174 Date: 12 – 13 May 2010
E-mail: cemanager1@intekom.co.za
E-mail: saae@iburst.co.za Certified Energy Auditor Course (CEA)
Website: tinyurl.com/greenex2010
Location: South Africa Wind Power Africa 2010 Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Date: 17 – 20 May 2010
Contact: Christina den Heijer Date: 12 – 14 May 2010
Cell: +27 82 334 0923
Contact: Denise Spaull
Tel/Fax: +27 18 294 7174
Tel: +27 21 689 7881
E-mail: cemanager1@intekom.co.za
E-mail: denise@windenergyafrica.com Website: www.windenergyafrica.com
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E NE R G Y E V E NTS
Don’t miss out!
For a full list of up-coming events in the energy industry, visit www.25degrees.net, our brand new energy portal. With a full listing of event information, including venues, costs and contact people, the site is a valuable resource in terms of planning which events you shouldn’t miss.
May 2010 Certified Energy Manager Course (CEM)
Carbon Expo 2010
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Date: 17 – 21 May 2010
Location: Cologne, Germany
Contact:Christina den Heijer
Contact: Lisa Kuntze
Cell: +27 82 334 0923
Tel: +27 11 486 2775
Tel/Fax: +27 18 294 7174
E-mail: lkuntze@germanchamber.co.za
E-mail: cemanager1@intekom.co.za
Website: www.carbonexpo.com
Date: 26 – 28 May 2010
Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP) Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Date: 19 – 21 May 2010
Contact: Christina den Heijer Cell: +27 82 334 0923 Tel/Fax: +27 18 294 7174 E-mail: cemanager1@intekom.co.za
October 2010 Certified Carbon Reduction Manager (CRM)
Certified Energy Manager Course (CEM)
Location: South Africa
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Date: 11 – 14 October 2010
Date: 11 – 15 October 2010
Contact: Christina den Heijer
Contact:Christina den Heijer
Cell: +27 82 334 0923
Cell: +27 82 334 0923
Tel/Fax: +27 18 294 7174
Tel/Fax: +27 18 294 7174
E-mail: cemanager1@intekom.co.za
E-mail: cemanager1@intekom.co.za
Certified Energy Auditor Course (CEA)
Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP)
Location: South Africa
Date: 11 – 14 October 2010
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Contact: Christina den Heijer
Contact: Christina den Heijer
Cell: +27 82 334 0923
Cell: +27 82 334 0923
Tel/Fax: +27 18 294 7174
Tel/Fax: +27 18 294 7174
E-mail: cemanager1@intekom.co.za
E-mail: cemanager1@intekom.co.za
Date: 13 – 15 October 2010
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