Project to address energy crisis launched today

Mosibudi Mangena, the science and technology minister

A project aimed at addressing the energy crisis in the country was launched in Tshwane today. The SWH500 project will see 500 solar heating units installed over the next six months.

The project is a collaboration between the department of science and technology, the Central Energy Fund, and the United Nations Development Programme.

At least 60% of the average household's electricity bill is made up of energy used to power a geyser, this cost can be completely cut out with the use of solar heating units.

Solar power closer to reality
Project SWH500, which will see 500 units installed in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape hopes to bring solar power closer to being an everyday reality.

One of the main stumbling blocks to the objective is start-up costs. The department has offered to subsidise the first 500 units by between R5 000 and R6 000.

However at an average cost of between R15 000 and R20 000 it remains unaffordable for most South Africans. Mosibudi Mangena, the science and technology minister, said the second phase of the project will address this issue. "The second phase will enable the commercial installation of a further 9 000 solar water heaters over a period of five years, with the ultimate goal of further bridging affordability gaps and making the benefits of solar water heaters available to low-income households."

Lack of standards
Another impediment to the development of solar energy in the country has been the lack of standards. This problem is being addressed with the installation of a test rig which cost almost R3 million and is the only one on the continent

While the stakeholders say the start-up costs can be negated by electricity cost savings, the cost of not using renewable energy to the enviroment can not be negated.