Solar (Photovoltaic) Systems, Energy Use and Business Activities in Maphephethe, KwaZulu, Natal
Literature suggests that energy is both a prerequisite for and essential to development (both social and economic). In order to establish the ability of an alternative energy source —photovoltaic systems - to meet daily requirements, an investigation into current energy usage, expenditure patterns and business applications was conducted. Maphephethe, an area north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, was selected for a formal survey, with locally based, trained interviewers interviewing 200 households and businesses. The findings indicated that income levels were slightly above national (rural) norms but displayed a wide variability. Eleven energy sources were used, including candles for illumination, car batteries for television sets, dry batteries for radios and wood for cooking. Paraffin and gas were used for refrigeration. The general attitude towards solar home systems was favourable but the interviewees perceived grid electricity as being better. There did not appear to be any difference between those households that had solar home systems and those that did not. Expenditure saved on traditional energy sources matched that spent on solar syst-ems. Business energy-related potential was present but not developed
Energy, environment and the rural poor in South Africa
The lack of adequate energy services imposes heavy social and environmental costs on poor rural households. The rural energy‐environment interface, however, is prone to oversimplistic analyses, especially in the case of the ‘fuelwood problem’, and to a lack of research. International experience suggests that deforestation is not necessarily an ‘energy problem’ resulting from the cutting of trees for fuelwood ‐ and therefore that it may not have an energy solution, like planting more trees for firewood. Instead, wood scarcity must be understood under multiple use of wood resources, and policies need to be multifaceted if they are to succeed. South African studies show that wood is becoming increasingly scarce in many areas; here fuelwood collection may contribute to deforestation more than suggested by international experience. In addition to the environmental effects of increasing wood scarcity and its social costs, borne largely by women, another serious problem arises from indoor air pollution caused by...
Fuelwood deficits in rural South Africa
Most people in South Africa rely on a diminishing source of fuelwood for meeting domestic energy needs. A fuelwood demand and supply model is presented which projects likely fuelwood supply deficits to the year 2000 AD. Fuelwood demand in underdeveloped rural areas is calculated from fuelwood consumption measurements combined with demographic data for 1980 and projections for 2000 AD. Fuelwood is obtained primarily from natural woodland and shrubland. Detailed analyses are made of above ground woody biomass production for the different areas. A fuelwood supply model is constructed based on these data and taking into account current consumption patterns. Fuelwood deficits are calculated as well as the plantation areas required to ensure a sustainable fuelwood supply. The limitations of this approach are noted and the urgency of developing an integrated energy supply policy for a “new South Africa” is argued.