Greg, SAF.
I have very little direct knowledge about the electricity grid situation in South Africa other than what I read about examples of a system that is only just beginning to rise out of the dark ages. A colleague referred me to his IEA analysis which describes the regions generation, transmission, distribution and user networks as a mixture of decrepit and leading edge - not unlike Australia in some regions.
You also have a high degree of energy poverty and aspirations by industry and consumers to rise to western standards for access and reliability in the grid network. Not unlike China and India.
At the same time the EU is planning mammoth solar generation networks in the North of your continent that will generate then reticulate energy all the way back to Europe.
It seems to me that SAf needs a lot of work done on policy that encourages a range of things and a clear understanding of how to prioritise and finance these;
-understand and define your needs on a 50 year time frame.
-build contemporary generation, including gas OC and CC plants, and in smaller proportion coal or seam gas where it is abundant.
-build renewable generation, and complementary storage (battery and hydro) for peak fill-in.
-building strong transmission networks across the width of the country to allow 'follow-the-sun' generation and consumption curves across the nation.
-learn how to become an energy exporter to collaborative neighbor nations.
-Promote energy efficiency through tough rules that;
--prohibit dumping of foreign appliances and technology of less than the best performance
--build distributed transmission and distribution networks that minimise waste. Australia loses 7% in transmission and half as much again in distribution.
--mandatory EE improvement and disclosure processes, backed by 'free' energy auditing and advisory. Energy and greenhouse accountability.
--creation of demand side response policy that obliges all existing and new users to participate (particularly industry)
--train and educate, K-12 schools, commerce & industry, residential consumers
--establish independent regulatory bodies that have meaningful policy and delivery authority. (not too much like Australia where the AER is seen by many as a cartel with the vampire's mistress looking after the blood bank)
--dont carve up and deregulate publicly owned infrastructure. It's been a (hidden) disaster in Australia and costs us dearly in over priced energy and disorganised investment.
--dont overlook small scale energy generation and abatement
I could go on but....
Back to your starting question. In Australia residential consumers waste about 15% energy and C&I waste about 20%. On top of that we suffer from critical peaks that require huge investment in generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure to cater for demand that exists as little as 40-80 hours a year. We're talking multiple billions of dollars worth of these stranded and under-used assets.
In the next couple of years we are introducing policy that will require all airconditioners and pool/spa pumps to be equipped with a Demand Response Enabling Device (DRED). It will allow utilities to modulate these loads during peak and critical peak periods to avoid failures and keep within constraint limits to reduce the need for augmentation investment. However with a national growth of energy consumption running at 2%-3% that wont last long.
It has been shown that nations with high energy capability also have the highest standards of living. With SAF having a great deal of poverty it is surely important to give everyone access to affordable energy.
As for seeking the views of companies in Australia you need to be more specific about whether you want to talk with users or providers, or intermediaries, and what you want to know.
Good luck.
If you want assistance with consultation let me know your email address.
Posted Saturday 8 Jan 2011 @ 12:44:59 am from IP
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