Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Energy of any form is of paramount importance in the development process of communities, regions and nations. It is a domestic necessity but also a factor of production whose cost directly affects prices of other goods and services, and the competitiveness of enterprises. Energy also plays a critical role in enabling social improvement and development: economies that are unable to provide access to modem energy for everyone at reasonable costs are left behind in a globalised world. Industrialised countries have proved that efficient energy production and distribution is a key factor for the generation of wealth. They have built there success on energy sources that are easily accessible and convertible into motion, heat or electricity. However, most of these sources are limited and not renewable in the literal meaning of the word. Huge infrastructure projects and trillion dollar investments are done in energy sources like fossil fuels that will in a not too distant future be exhausted. Additionally, these fuels lead to climate change with unpredictable consequences. Renewable energy on the other hand, has not been given enough political and financial attention that would make it competitive and provide a real alternative. Developing countries, and the African continent as a whole, have tried to imitate the economies of the first world when it comes to energy sourcing. They are very likely to fall into the same traps: large investments into projects that benefit a small number of people, over capacities on the supply side, energy generation that is closely connected to environmental pollution and last but not least: dependency on energy reserves that are located in politically unstable regions of the world. It is recommended that Africa as a continent should work on energy sourcing concepts that • reduce poverty and enable development, • give its scattered population access to modern energy at reasonable cost, • rely on socially and environmentally sustainable energy generation, • integrate regions to avoid conflicts, • lead to independency from external energy supply and • make the continent a competitive actor in the global market place. In the case of 3 African countries namely Algeria, Ghana and South Africa it is illustrated that there is an opportunity for Africa to do things differently and to learn from the mistakes in the history of modem energy. The focus on existing opportunities, the interest to learn from others and the readiness to work together with partners enable these nations to really fuel development and achieve above average social and economical growth. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Energie in alle vorme is van uiterste belang in die ontwikkeiingsproses van gemeenskappe, streke en nasies. Dit is beide 'n plaaslike vereiste, maar ook 'n produksiefaktor, waarvan die koste 'n direkte invloed het op pryse van ander goedere en dienste en die mededingendheid van ondernemings. Ekonomië wat nie die vermoe het om toegang na moderne energie vir almal teen redelike koste te gee nie, word agtergelaat in 'n geglobaliseerde wereld. Geindustrialiseerde lande het bewys dat effektiewe energieproduksie en -verspreiding 'n sleutelfaktor is vir welvaartskepping. Hulle sukses is gebou op energiebronne wat maklik, toeganklik en omskakelbaar is in beweging, hitte of elektrisiteit. Meeste van hierdie bronne is egter beperk en nie hernubaar nie. Enorme infrakstuktuurprojekte van biljoene dollar word investeer in energiebronne soos fossielbrandstof wat in die nie-soverre-toekoms uitgeput sal wees. Die gebruik van hierdie tipe brandstof lei tot klimaatsveranderinge met onvoorspelbare gevolge. Hernubare energie het egter nog nie genoegsame politieke en finansiele steun gekry wat dit 'n mededingende werklike alternatief maak nie. Ontwikkelende lande en Afrika as geheel, probeer eerste wereldse ekonomie navolg ten opsigte van energie verkryging. Die kanse is goed dat hulle in die volgende slaggate sal val: Groot investering wat min mense bevoordeel; oorvoorsiening ten opsigte van lewering; energie-opwekking wat omgewingsbesoedeling aan die hand werk; afhanklikheid van energie-reserwes wat in politiese onstabiele streke van die wereld gelee is. Dit word aanbeveel dat die Afrika-kontinent werk na energiebron konsepte wat: • Verminderde armoede aan die hand werk en ontwikkeling bevorder • 'n Verspreide bevolking toegang gee tot moderne energie teen billike pryse • Vertrou op sosiaal en omgewings volhoubare energie opwekking • Streke integreer ten einde konflik te vermy • Afhanklikheid van eksterne energie bronne vermy • Die kontinent 'n mededingende speler in die wereldmark, maak. In die gevalle van drie Afrika lande naamlik, Algerie, Ghana en Suid-Afrika, is dit geillustreer dat daar is 'n geleentheid vir Afrika om nie die foute van die verlede te herhaal nie. Die fokus op bestaande geleenthede, die belangstelling om te leer van andere en die bereidwilligheid om saam met vernote te werk, skep die geIeentheid vir hierdie lande om ontwikkeling te dryf en om bo-gemiddelde ekonomiese en sosiale groei aan te teken.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Many rural areas in Africa still lack adequate electricity supply. This has been identified as a major obstacle to development in many African nations. The high costs associated with providing electricity through national grid systems prevent many governments from delivering electricity to remote rural areas. The purpose of this study is to define a strategic architecture and business model that can be used to provide solar energy to Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in Africa. The desired outcome is a sustainable business model for solar energy provision that can be implemented in the African context. This study uses the strategic architecture framework developed by Ungerer, Pretorius and Herholdt (2011) to achieve this. Primary data was collected through interviews with industry experts and this was supplemented with a comprehensive review of current literature. An analysis of the PV market shows that solar PV has grown significantly over the past decade and the industry is already extremely competitive. The highest competitive pressures include substitute products, high buyer bargaining because of low product differentiation, and the threat of new entrants. The industry has a clearly defined value chain starting with the manufacturing of PV panels and other systems components, but goes as far as providing financing to customers. The profit potential in the industrial and commercial segments is highest and key competitors in this segment offer similar products and services. The customer analysis showed that small businesses vary considerably in the products and services they offer and that their energy needs also differ. Services that can be offered to these customers include energy efficiency assessments, system design, pre-project services, financing, system installation and system monitoring, operation and maintenance. The organisation that will implement the strategy is a company called Solshare. The organisation identified its vision and mission, and core values and defined the domain it will participate in. The commercial and industrial segments are regarded as the most appealing segments and the core product offering is energy efficiency assessments and solar installations. This will be offered through an innovative shared-solar model that also includes system financing, system monitoring and system optimisation, and will be implemented by carefully selected partners to minimise cost. Solshare’s objective is to develop a distinctive competence in financing and implementing shared-solar projects through strategic partnerships, while providing excellent customer service. It will employ is a focused low-cost strategy by providing solar energy to small businesses at the lowest cost possible, through a shared resource approach. Costs will be managed by focusing on a core set of activities and outsourcing non-core activities. The key value proposition is the development, installation and servicing of quality shared-solar solutions at the lowest cost. The cost drivers include the costs of solar system components procured from suppliers, the installation costs, salaries, marketing costs, system maintenance, and legal fees to draw up contracts and lease agreements. Income streams include energy assessments, fees charged for site selection and procurement, the installation of systems, and the monitoring and maintenance of installed systems. The capital mix consists of 30% equity and 70% debt and organisation aims to optimise resource velocity through completing new installations within a four month period and by employing a core team of professional sales and technical staff, while outsourcing non-core processes.

Thesis (DTech (Mechanical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / This thesis contains innovations that could help homesteads in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) to ‘harvest’ more energy from flat solar energy collection surfaces. The thesis makes the assumption that universal resolution of energy poverty is a long term issue – and may not realistically be achieved using the traditional electrification route of: Fossil fuel/Hydro potential → electricity → transmission/distribution → paid for/free usage. Using a combination of literature search, Transient System Simulation (TRNSYS) modelling and experimental validation, the thesis notes the bi-hemispherical tropical location of most of the region and the abundant solar resource. It therefore advocates extensive use of the resource at home level for both electricity generation, and fluid heating/preheating purposes. Using mathematical models, the thesis critically examines relationships among energy incidence, transformation and yield from a flat surface for both Photovoltaic (PV) and Solar Thermal (ST) usage. It suggests the first set of innovations for the region: the two azimuths installations. The second set uses TRNSYS and Operations Research (OR) modelling to optimise selection of PV equipment meeting a starter–home’s energy loads throughout the region. Recommendations for both sets of innovations are presented in the form of colour coded maps. The third innovation in the thesis is the patented gravity driven, hydro-mechanical solar tracker, a novel solar tracking device in three different operation and control modes. In summary, one patent, 4 journal papers and 5 peer-reviewed international conference papers comprise the work.