SANF 16 no 52
Significant progress has been made to develop a regional strategy that will allow southern Africa to increase the uptake of cleaner and alternative energy sources, as well as develop innovative ways of using less energy to power its development agenda.
Energy experts from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) approved the Regional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan (REEESAP) at a validation meeting held in October in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The REEESAP, which spans the period 2016-2030, aims to provide a framework for SADC member states to develop renewable energy strategies, leading to the greater uptake of RE resources as well as mobilization of financial resources in the sector.
This will be achieved by a variety of measures, including establishing renewable energy agencies in all 15 SADC member states that will have specific mandate for off-grid systems, as well as developing and adopting guidelines to meet the SADC target of cost-reflective tariffs by 2019 while ensuring that the poor are not prejudiced.
Other proposed measures include raising awareness on the value and benefits of renewable energy and introducing sustainable energy issues in school curricula and tertiary education.
The REEESAP also proposes to create a special purpose regional investment fund for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects of less than 10 megawatts (MW). The fund is expected, among other things, to support packaging of bankable projects
The adoption of the REEESAP will not only change the landscape of renewable energy development in SADC, but is also critical to encouraging the region to adopt innovative ways of using less energy to support development initiatives.
This is because SADC has vast with renewable energy sources, ranging from wind, solar and gas to hydro and biofuels.
According to the African Development Bank, the overall hydropower potential in SADC countries is estimated at about 1,080 terawatt hours per year (TWh/year) but capacity being utilised at present is just under 31 TWh/year. A terawatt is equal to one million megawatts.
With regard to geothermal, the United Nations Environment Programme and the Global Environment Facility estimate that about 4,000MW of electricity is available along the Rift Valley in the United Republic of Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.
Approval of the REEESAP is expected to attract significant investment into the SADC renewable energy sector, allowing the region to increase energy access and availability.
In the same light, the REEESAP is expected to promote technological innovation in the sector that will ensure that the region uses less energy to provide the same service.
This will be achieved through various measures including the use of remote electric geyser switches, water sensor dispatching equipment and time-controlled shower units for institutions, as well as banning the use of incandescent light bulbs, electric geysers, boilers and other inefficient water heating and lighting equipment.
Switching from traditional light bulbs to compact florescent lamps and commercial lighting, as well as the uptake of solar water heaters have been effective in most SADC countries as they have significantly reduced energy use. The use of compact florescent lamps can save up to 80 percent of the electricity consumption compared to incandescent bulbs.
Solar water heaters are another energy conservation device. Research shows that use of solar water heaters could reduce household electricity bills by 40 percent or more.
Implementation of these energy efficiency measures in southern Africa has resulted in savings of about 4,561MW of electricity between 2009 and 2015. It is envisaged that the SADC region will save more than 6,000MW by 2018 if such initiatives are implemented according to plan.
Speaking at the validation meeting of the REEESAP, director in Swaziland
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