Bay’s renewable energy projects set for roll-out - about 1 year ago

AFTER several years of intense discussion and planning, the first of Nelson Mandela Bay’s R2-billion renewable energy projects is to be rolled out in a week’s time, the Central Energy Fund (CEF) announced yesterday.
Five years after the municipality began investigating the viability of renewable energy, 500 solar-heated geysers will be installed, primarily at the homes of consenting municipal employees and industries related to the roll-out, from the middle of this month, at a cost of R10-million.
The trial run will be to test municipal databases and iron out any glitches before a city- wide roll-out from September. Middle to upper income households were specifically chosen for the trial, because they use the most hot water.
The CEF wants to see the installation of 65000 solar-heated geysers in the next five years, with the eventual target of 100000 at a cost of R900-million, aimed at residents across all income groups. The operation will be funded by the CEF.
From September, residents will be able to opt for geysers of between 150 litres and 500 litres to be installed at their homes, costing up to R12000 – about R5000 below market price – payable over six years.
This was announced by CEF energy development general manager Dr Manny Singh at a packed business presentation hosted by the Mandela Bay Media Association yesterday.
Singh said the geysers would bring a 40% reduction on household electricity bills, the savings from which would more than cover the cost. To avoid people defaulting on their payments, these would appear as instalments on residents’ municipal accounts, he said.
But the solar-heated geysers formed just one facet of a three-pronged approach to renewable energy which would see the Bay used as “the benchmark for the countrywide implementation of similar projects”, Singh said.
“The metro is the benchmark for what is possible in South Africa,” he told the hundreds of businessmen attending the meeting. “We want to keep most of the business (for the projects) within the Bay.”
Also in the pipeline is a R500-million, 32 megawatt wind farm at one of three possible sites around the city, for which a record of decision is expected by the end of August, as well as 3MW methane gas harvesting facilities at landfills Koedoeskloof and Arlington.
Singh said the third facet included energy efficiency, which would see R180-million spent over the next year and included projects replacing road lighting with energy-saving bulbs.

2010/05/10
Brian Hayward haywardb@avusa.co.za

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