Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is experiencing an energy shortage and volatile supply of electricity. This situation is placing pressure on businesses and citizens and is opening avenues into the renewable sector. This study investigates servicisation as a potential means to assist in the alleviation of energy consumption on the national power grid, and answers whether servicisation in the solar water heating sector could pose as a viable business venture. The main research goal was to investigate whether servicisation within a housing estate could be favourably received. The majority of residents in this high-income bracket were more willing to invest their own capital in renewables rather than being provided with a solar water heater through servicisation. Knowledge of solar water heating is extremely poor amongst consumers, and this contributes to the lack of penetration of solar water heaters in the industry to date. To further exacerbate the situation, installations are often poorly executed, leading to negative experiences by consumers. Initially it was assumed that post 2012, all homes built would be installed with solar geysers or heat pumps, due to legislation. However, surprisingly this was not the case, as a large portion of homes built between 2012 & 2013 have not complied with this legislation.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Elektrisiteit is ʼn basiese bron van energie in hedendaagse huishoudings en besighede. Die behoefte na deurlopende elektrisiteit neem toe terwyl die huidige elektrisiteitsverskaffer, ESKOM, ook nie aan die huidige vraag na elektrisiteit kan voorsien nie. Verdere beperkings is die infrastruktuur. Die infrastruktuur is nie so ontwikkel dat elektrisiteit aan 100 persent van die bevolking verskaf kan word nie. Alle plase het nie toegang tot die huidige ESKOM roosterstelsel nie of dit is onprakties om ʼn dienslyn te bou vir die gerief van elektrisiteit. Gevolglik was die meeste boerderybedrywighede in die verlede afhanklik van dieselkragopwekkers. Die gebruik van sonenergie het egter aantrekliker geword en het moontlik meer ekonomies en prakties geword en bied ook ʼn deurlopende krag opsie. Sonstralingsvlakke in Suid Afrika is die hoogste in die wêreld. Die Noord-Kaap word ingesluit in daardie areas in SA wat uiters geskik is vir PV aanlegte. In lande soos Ethiopië en die VSA is sonenergie met PV-tegnologie met groot sukses aangewend in landbouomstandighede vir die voorsiening van elektrisiteit wat ook in SA met sukses aangewend kan word met die uiters geskikte sonbestralingsvlakke. Die grootste voordeel van sonenergie is die oorvloedige beskikbaarheid van die energiebron in SA. Verder is dit volhoubaar, omgewingsvriendelik, hernubaar en heeltemal gratis. Daar is geen bewegende onderdele nie, gevolglik is daar geen geraasbesoedeling nie en is die bedryfskostes van ʼn sonenergie stelsel baie laag. Die nadeel van sonenergie is dat PV-aanlegte slegs elektrisiteit kan opwek wanneer die son skyn. Energiebergingsisteme is nodig om hierdie nadeel te oorbrug of ʼn aanvullende energiebron soos wind moet gebruik word om die tekort aan te vul. Kapitaalspandering is die grootste hindernis in die oprigting van hernubare energiestelsels aangesien dit op een stadium spandeer moet word. Sonenergie is die gewildste energiebron binne die landbousektor in die Noord-Kaap en word deur 88.57 persent van die respondente gebruik terwyl slegs 28.57 persent van die respondente dieselkragopwekkers beskikbaar het as rugsteun fasiliteit vir elektrisiteitvoorsiening. Die belangrikste redes waarom daar oorgeskakel is na sonenergie, was om deurlopende elektrisiteit te verseker en die vermindering van tradisionele energieverbruik. Die studie toon dat sonenergie, oor ʼn 15 jaar leeftyd, ʼn derde van die koste van fossielbrandstowwe kos, alhoewel daar groter aanvanklike kapitaalspandering betrokke is wat as ʼn struikelblok gesien word. Die statistiek wat in die ondersoek versamel is dui daarop dat sonenergie suksesvol aangewend word om te voorsien aan die elektrisiteitbehoeftes van die respondente binne die Noord-Kaap geografiese gebied. Daar is egter geen twyfel dat sonenergie suksesvol, effektief, doeltreffend en ekonomies aangewend kan word as ʼn plaasvervanger vir energie uit fossielbrandstof, binne die landbousektor, op klein en medium skaal in die Noord-Kaap.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Coal export mines in the Mpumalanga Highveld region of South Africa generate growing volumes of discard coal estimated to be in excess of a billion tonnes. It presents a significant pollution hazard. Discard coal has a usable carbon content that can be used in the generation of power through the application of fluidized bed combustion technology. The objective of this study was to evaluate its potential as an economically viable fuel source for generation of electricity at the Witbank coalfields. This study was motivated by advances in fluidized combustion technology and significant changes in the South African electricity market in recent years. A holistic approach was adopted considering regulatory policy, market, technical, environmental and economic factors in the use of discard coal as an alternative fuel source. The policy and regulatory environment was assessed from the perspective of the private sector as project developer and the most likely source of funding, given government’s funding constraints. An evaluation of the future pricing structure of electricity, energy resource mix, demand growth, future development of the coal market, production of discard coal and the cost of coal was conducted. Levelised cost of electricity methodology was used to conduct the economic feasibility for comparison with the cost of Eskom’s pulverised coal technology for its new power stations. The study found that generating electricity from discard coal presents a significant commercial opportunity as its levelised cost of electricity was found to be lower than Eskom’s levelised cost of electricity for its new power stations. Plant sizes of 125 MW to 1 000 MW were considered. For plant capacities of about 500 MW and larger, the cost of electricity was found to be competitive with the current average electricity price taking into account the cost of transmission/distribution and interest charges. This is on condition that the electricity is sold to Eskom or wheeled through Eskom’s grid and sold to third parties. Otherwise, plant capacity will be limited to the maximum demand from large local users, which is expected to be considerably less than 500 MW. Currently there is no regulatory certainty on wheeling mechanisms and charges and it is an area where major policy development is required. The development of a project could be hampered by policy uncertainty and because of Eskom’s monopoly position as single buyer. The favourable results and findings of the economic evaluation conducted during this study warrant further detailed feasibility studies.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / Fossil fuel reserves have been diminishing worldwide thus making them very scarce in the long term. These fuel sources and their by-products which are used commercially tend to produce large quantities of emissions. Some of them are believed to be toxic to flora and fauna. It is primarily for this reason that researchers worldwide have begun to seek out alternative sources of environmentally safe fuel. Biodiesel from algae is one of these sources that have been examined over the last few decades. Biodiesel has been produced from other plant-based material and waste oils in countries like America and Japan. However, the use of food based crops for biodiesel production has been challenged as it has an impact on food production on an international scale. Algae have only recently been investigated for their feasibility for biodiesel production on a large scale. The aim of this study was to investigate and develop technologies for biodiesel production from algae. The species of algae chosen were chlorella sp and scenedesmus sp., since they are indigeneous to Kwazulu Natal in South Africa. Samples were obtained from a local raceway pond and prepared for analysis. Drying protocols used freeze, oven and sun drying for initial preparation of the samples for analysis. Sun drying was the least energy intensive but most time consuming. At laboratory scale, oven drying was chosen as the best alternative. Lipid extraction methods investigated were the separating funnel method, the soxhlet method, microwave assisted extraction (MAE) and the expeller press. Thirteen solvents covering a range of polarities were used with the extraction methods to determine the efficiency of the solvent with these methods. Optimization of the MAE method was conducted using both the one factor at a time (OFAT) method and a design of experiment (DOE) statistical method. The shelf life of algal biomass was determined by ageing the samples for approximately three months. Direct and in-situ transesterification of lipid extracts to produce biodiesel was investigated using both acid and base catalysis. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted using Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) and gas chromatography (GC). Chemical and physical characterization of the biodiesel produced from the algal lipid extracts were compared to both local and international standard specifications for biodiesel. In terms of extraction efficiency, it was found that soxhlet and microwave assisted extraction methods were almost equally good. This was proved by the MAE method yielding an average of 10.0% lipids for chloroform, ethanol and hexane after 30 mL of solvent was used in an extraction time of 10 minutes, while the soxhlet method yielded 10.36% lipids using an extraction volume of 100 mL of solvent with an extraction time of 3 hours. Chloroform, ethanol and hexane were more efficient than the other ten solvents used. This was shown by these three solvents producing lipid quantities between 10% to 11% while all the other solvents produced lipid quantities between 2 and 10 %. The best extraction efficiency was achieved by the binary solvent mixture made up of chloroform and ethanol in a 1:1 ratio. Under the conditions optimized, this solvent ratio yielded a lipid content of 11.76%. The methods chosen and optimized for extraction are very efficient, but the actual cost of production of biodiesel need to be determined. Physical methods like the expeller press are not feasible for extraction of the type of biomass produced unless algae are pelletized to improve extraction. This will impact on the cost of producing biodiesel. The transesterification protocols investigated show that the base catalysis produced biodiesel with a ratio of saturates to unsaturates conducive to a good fuel product. The direct esterification method in this study proved to be better than the in-situ method for biodiesel production. The in-situ method was also more labour intensive. Chromatography was found to be a fast and efficient method for qualitative and quantitative determination of biodiesel. Characterization tests showed that the quality of biodiesel produced was satisfactory. It also showed that the methods used in this study were feasible for the satisfactory production of biodiesel which meets local and international specifications.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Electrical Engineering )) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2014 / Remote rural electrification via grid-extension is a challenging solution due to high connection costs and low electricity consumption rate. As a result, it is difficult to recover the initial investment costs. Therefore, electrification is made possible by means of the commonly used off-grid approaches such as solar, wind, diesel generator and conventional micro-hydro. However, owing to non-continuous availability of sunlight and wind, high cost of diesel fuel, and requirements for construction of diversion weirs, these off-grid approaches might not offer a cost-effective and reliable solution to low income rural residents. There are many rural communities throughout the world without access to grid electricity and with access to flowing water. An off-grid micro-hydrokinetic river (MHR) system is one of the promising technologies to be used in remote rural areas with flowing water. It can bring sustainable improvement to their quality of life due to its high energy density and minimal environmental impact. This technology is still in the development stage and there is a lack of application, especially in rural areas. Hence, this study investigates the current status of MHR technology in rural applications. To demonstrate the economic feasibility of an off-grid MHR system, a rural site with multiple energy sources within South Africa has been used. The economic benefit offered by this proposed system at the selected site is compared to the economic benefits offered by other commonly used standalone systems such a solar, wind and diesel generator (DG). This economic comparison has been performed by making use of a Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER) simulation tool. Grid extension has also been used as a comparison method for obtaining an economical distance between grid lines and the remote rural site. The results highlighted the acceptable economic performance of the MHR system. Finally, most of the available modelling and simulation tools for mechanical and electrical systems are not equipped with hydrokinetic modules. Hence, an MHR system model has been developed in MATLAB/Simulink in order to study its dynamic performance as submitted to variable water resource. Its performance has then been compared to the performance of a wind system counterpart for generating the same amount of electrical power. This proved/verified that the proposed system can generate electricity markedly cheaper than a wind system even in areas with adequate wind resource within South Africa.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Electrical Engineering )) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2014 / Remote rural electrification via grid-extension is a challenging solution due to high connection costs and low electricity consumption rate. As a result, it is difficult to recover the initial investment costs. Therefore, electrification is made possible by means of the commonly used off-grid approaches such as solar, wind, diesel generator and conventional micro-hydro. However, owing to non-continuous availability of sunlight and wind, high cost of diesel fuel, and requirements for construction of diversion weirs, these off-grid approaches might not offer a cost-effective and reliable solution to low income rural residents. There are many rural communities throughout the world without access to grid electricity and with access to flowing water. An off-grid micro-hydrokinetic river (MHR) system is one of the promising technologies to be used in remote rural areas with flowing water. It can bring sustainable improvement to their quality of life due to its high energy density and minimal environmental impact. This technology is still in the development stage and there is a lack of application, especially in rural areas. Hence, this study investigates the current status of MHR technology in rural applications. To demonstrate the economic feasibility of an off-grid MHR system, a rural site with multiple energy sources within South Africa has been used. The economic benefit offered by this proposed system at the selected site is compared to the economic benefits offered by other commonly used standalone systems such a solar, wind and diesel generator (DG). This economic comparison has been performed by making use of a Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER) simulation tool. Grid extension has also been used as a comparison method for obtaining an economical distance between grid lines and the remote rural site. The results highlighted the acceptable economic performance of the MHR system. v Finally, most of the available modelling and simulation tools for mechanical and electrical systems are not equipped with hydrokinetic modules. Hence, an MHR system model has been developed in MATLAB/Simulink in order to study its dynamic performance as submitted to variable water resource. Its performance has then been compared to the performance of a wind system counterpart for generating the same amount of electrical power. This proved/verified that the proposed system can generate electricity markedly cheaper than a wind system even in areas with adequate wind resource within South Africa.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is facing an energy crisis on two levels; the existing capacity to supply electricity is unable to support future growth in demand, and the electricity being produced comes mostly from coal-fired power stations with associated emission problems. The South African government has a target for renewable energy to service 23% of the country’s energy consumption by 2013. This could potentially be realised through achievement of another government target, the installation of one million Solar Water Heaters (SWHs). On a technical level, Solar Water Heaters (SWHs) represent a completely viable renewable energy alternative for South Africa. It is an established and proven technology which has the potential to have a big impact on the country’s electricity capacity problems. SWHs can be used in a variety of applications from industry to households. Most of the hot water in South African homes is heated by electric resistance heating in standard electric water heaters and there are no technical obstacles to replacing most of these with SWHs, thereby delivering a saving of up to 70% of the water heating energy bill. Water heating currently accounts for 40% of domestic electricity consumption within a residential sector that uses 20-30% of the national supply. At the macroscale, the roll out of SWH programmes is completely scalable. The benefits of SWH installation accrue to the consumer in the form of a financial saving in the long-term and to society in the form of reduced emissions. Awareness of the benefits is growing amongst the general public, commercial institutions and in government. Sales are starting to pick up due to, amongst other reasons, electricity price hikes and government subsidies for SWH installations offered through the national electricity supply company, Eskom. A national building regulation enforcing energy-efficient water heating in new buildings has been drafted and is expected to be in place by mid 2011. The rate of change from electric to solar water heaters remains disappointingly slow, however. The SWH industry in South Africa accounts for less than 10% of total hot water solutions sold. This study sought to establish the opportunities as well as possible barriers for the creation of SWH programmes within the insurance sector. Close to 50% of all standard electric water heaters installed in South Africa are procured and installed via the insurance industry due to the failure of units that have endured beyond the manufacturer’s guarantee period. This presents an opportunity for interventions that encourage policyholders to change to SWHs. Such interventions, if successful, would dramatically speed up the roll out of SWHs in South Africa. In addition the study sought to determine the barriers to the uptake of SWHs by policyholders in the case of the two insurance companies that currently have SWH programmes in operation. Data was collected through interviews with representatives in the insurance industry and a range of SWH industry stakeholders and consumers. The literature review focused on SWH policies and regulations and corporate and marketing theories. The material on transition in socio-technological systems proved especially useful in understanding the complex dynamics of the study topic. The conclusion drawn from the research is that the South African insurance industry has the capacity and opportunity to drive the penetration of SWH technology. The opportunity is, however not being exploited to anywhere near its potential. The entire system is geared towards providing a particular ‘business-as-usual’ solution. Analysis conducted in this study confirms that the system is in a “locked-in” state and extremely resistant to change. If the opportunity is to be acted on, to supplant the dominant technology for water heating installed by the insurance industry with what is currently a niche technology (SWHs), an external landscape shock is almost certainly needed. This shock to the system could be aided by interventions that target a change in the current system’s logic. The study provides some suggestions in this regard. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika staar ‘n energie krisis in die gesig. Aan die een kant is die bestaande elektrisiteitsvoorsiening nie genoeg om plek te maak vir die toekomstige vraag na elektrisiteit nie en aan die ander kant word meeste van Suid-Afrika se elektrisiteit opgewek deur steenkoolaangedrewe kragstasies met gevolglike probleme as gevolg van vrylating van kweekhuis-gasse. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering het ‘n teiken vir hernubare energie om 23% op te maak van die land se totale energie verbruik teen 2013. Hierdie teiken sou potensieel bereik kon word deur die bereiking van ‘n ander van die land se teikens, naamlik die instalering van een miljoen sonverhitters. Op ‘n tegniese vlak verteenwoordig sonverhitters ‘n lewensvatbare hernubare energie alternatief vir Suid-Afrika. Dit is ‘n beproefde tegnologie wat die potensiaal het om ‘n groot impak te hê op die elektrisiteit kapasiteitsprobleme van die land. Sonverhitters kan ‘n verskeidenheid van warm water behoeftes bevredig, van groot industrieë tot tuisverbruik. Meeste warm water in Suid-Afrikaanse huise word verhit deur standaard elektriese geisers. Daar bestaan geen tegniese hindernisse om hierdie geisers deur sonverhitters te vervang en tot 70% van die water verhittings energie rekening te bespaar nie. Water verhitting maak tans 40% van die totale huishoudelike elektrisiteits verbruik op. Die huishoudelike verbruik is 20-30% van die nasionale verbruik en selfs hoer gedurende piek. Op die makro skaal is die uitrol van sonverhitters heeltemal skaleerbaar. Die voordele van die installering van sonverhitters val die verbruiker toe in die vorm van finansiele besparing oor die lang termyn en vir die samelewing as geheel in die vorm van emissie besparings. Bewustheid van die voordele is aan die groei by die algemene publiek, kommersiele instansies en by die regering. Verkope het begin optel as gevolg van onder andere die elektrisiteits prysverhoging en die staatssubsidies vir sonverhitters aangebied via die nasionale elektrisiteits toevoer maatskappy, Eskom. A nasionale bouregulasie wat enegie doeltreffende waterverhitting sal afdwing op nuwe geboue is reeds opgestel en dit word verwag dat hierdie regulasie in plek sal wees teen middel 2011. Die koers van verandering van elektriese water verhitters na sonkrag bly egter teleurstellend laag. Die sonverhittings industrie in Suid-Afrika maak minder as 10% van die totale water verhittings mark uit. Hierdie studie het beoog om die geleenthede sowel as die moontlike versperrings tot die skepping van sonverhittings programme in die versekerings bedryf uit te wys. Die versekerings bedryf koop en installeer ongeveeer 50% van alle standaard elektriese geisers in Suid-Afrika as gevolg van elektriese geisers wat breek na die vervaardiger se waarborg verval het . As gevolg hiervan bestaan daar ‘n geleentheid vir intervensies wat polishouers aanmoedig om te verander na sonverhitters. Sulke intervensies, indien suksesvol, het die potensiaal om die uitrol van sonverhitters in die land dramaties te versnel. Verder het hierdie studie beoog om die versperrings tot die opname van sonverhitters uit te wys by twee versekerings maatskappye in Suid-Afrika wat wel sonverhittings programme het. Data is versamel deur onderhoude met verteenwoordigers van die versekeringsbedryf en ‘n reeks sonverhitting industrie belanghebbendes en verbruikers. Die literatuurstudie het gefokus op sonverhittings beleid en regulasies en korporatiese en bemarkings teorie. ‘n Literatuurstudie in oorgang in sosio-tegnologiese sisteme was veral nuttig om die komplekse dinamika van die sisteem te verstaan. Die gevolgtrekking van hierdie studie is dat die Suid-Afrikaanse versekeringsbedryf wel die kapasiteit en geleentleid het om die penetrasie van sonverhittings tegnologie te dryf. Hierdie geleentheid word egter nie gebruik tot sy volle potensiaal nie. Die ganse sisteem is gerat om ‘n spesifieke tegnologie op ‘n sekere manier te verskaf. Analise in hierdie studie bevestig dat die sisteem in ‘n geslote staat is en daar is uiterste teenkanting tot verandering. Indien hierdie geleentheid om die dominate tegnologie vir waterverhitting geinstaleer deur die versekerings bedryf te verplaas met wat op die oomblik nog ‘n niche tegnologie is (sonverhitters), is ‘n eksterne landskap skok nodig. Hierdie skok tot die sisteem kan aangehelp word deur intervensies wat ‘n verandering in die huidige sisteem logika teiken. Hierdie studie bied ‘n paar voorstelle in hierdie verband.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African Government developed the REIPPPP to ensure the implementation of Green Economy and job creation policies, while mitigating the current power crises with the short lead times of RE technologies. Current South African literature is ambiguous when discussing the legitimacy of the REIPPPP and the overall understanding of the programme and its associated outcomes in terms of job creation, are therefore, vague. A need therefore exists to unpack the quantitative job creation submissions of the REIPPPP and to carry out an investigation into the opportunities and challenges associated with meaningful job creation. Through a non-linear iterative exploratory design, hinging on the researcher’s position within industry, this empirical research comprises of two components. Firstly, a literature study informs the development of a meaningful job creation framework which is used to analyse the programme’s bid documentation and publicly available data. Secondly, mixed-methods are utilised to collect quantitative data from the DoE and qualitative data from job creation stakeholders. The result is an enriched understanding of the REIPPPP in terms of meaningful job creation, identifying trends, similarities and unexpected outcomes across methods. The study concludes that the programme does create meaningful jobs yet data is misaligned and currently unavailable to the public. Secondly, since job creation is a feature of South African Government development policy, a more robust emphasis is required in the REIPPPP weighting and auditing process, which includes further research of intended benefits and suggested improvements to align job creation data. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering het die hernubare energie onafhanklike kragprodusent verkrygingsprogram ontwikkel om die voorsiening van die werksskeppingsbeleid en groen-ekonomiebelied te verseker. Huidige Suid-Afrikaanse letterkunde is dubbelsinnig wanneer die wettigheid van die program bespreek word. Die algehele begrip van die program en sy geassosieerde uitkoms is dus vaag. Daar is n behoefte om die kwantitatiewe werkskeppingvoorleggings te analiseer en om ondersoek in te stel in die geleenthede en uitdagings wat geassosieer word met betekenisvolle werkskepping. Deur n nie- lineêre iteratiewe ondersoekende ontwerp, wat gebaseer is op die navorser se posisie in die industrie, bestaan hieride empiriese navorsing, uit twee komponente. Eerstens, lig n literatuurstudie die ontwikkeling van n betekenisvolle werkskeppingsraamwerk in, en word gebruik om die program se boddokumentasie en publieke data te analiseer. Tweedens, word gemengde metodes gebruik om kwantitatiewe data van die departement van energie te versamel asook kwalitatiewe data van werkskeppingbelanghebbendes. Die resultaat is n meer verrykende verstandhouding van die hernubare energie onafhanklike kragprodusent verkrygingsprogram in terme van betekenisvolle werkskepping asook die identifisering van tendense en onverwagse uitkomste. Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die program nie betekenisvolle werk skep nie en is tans onbeskikbaar vir die publiek. Tweedens, aangesien werkskepping 'n kenmerk is van die Suid-Afrikaanse regering se ontwikkelingsbeleid, word 'n meer robuuste klem vereis op die hernubare energie onafhanklike kragprodusent verkrygingsprogram se ouditeringsproses en verdere navorsing van die beoogde voordele word voorgestel.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management)) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingstudie het ’n telefoniese vraelys behels wat aan die einde van 2007 deur 405 respondente voltooi is. Die doel van die vraelys was om die opinies van ’n verteenwoordigende steekproef Kaapstadse residensiële elektrisiteitsverbruikers te bepaal ten opsigte van kwessies wat verband hou met die opwekking, verkoop en gebruik van hernubare of groen elektrisiteit. Dit is gedoen ten einde ’n ingeligte formulering te kan doen van toepaslike groen elektrisiteitsprodukte vir verkoop aan die residensiële elektrisiteitsmark. Response is op Likert-skale aangedui en is geanaliseer deur middel van nie-parametriese statistiese metodologie. Daar is bevind dat ’n groot proporsie (90.6 persent) van die Kaapstadse verbruikers bewus is van en besorg is oor die huidige klimaats- en omgewingsuitdagings en dat ’n soortgelyke proporsie (86.9 persent) bekommerd is oor die gevaar van aardse verwarming. Daar is ook bevind dat 85.0 persent van respondente gebruik maak van energiebesparende gloeilampies. Daar kon egter geen beduidende verwantskappe gevind word tussen die algemeen-aanvaarbare groener tegnologieë en die verbruikers se bereidheid om meer te betaal vir groen elektrisiteit nie. Daar is bevind dat 61.7 persent van die respondente bereid sou wees om tot 15.4 persent as ’n premie te betaal ten einde groen elektrisiteit te koop. Daar is verder bevind dat van die drie voorgestelde aankoopmetodes, groen notas (green tags) of groen kwitansies vir voorafbetaalde elektrisiteit die mees praktiese is en waarskynlik die mees algemeen aanvaar sal word. Verbruikers verkies om elke keer wat hulle elektrisiteit koop die keuse te kan uitoefen tussen groen elektrisiteit en konvensionele krag en dan is die voorafbetaalde manier van koop die mees geskikte opsie om die aankoop van groen elektrisiteit te bestuur. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study comprised of a telephonic questionnaire conducted in late 2007 with 405 respondents. The aim of the questionnaire was to derive the opinions of a representative sample of Cape Town’s residential electricity consumers on matters relating to the generation, sale and use of renewable or green electricity. This was done in order to inform the formulation of appropriate green electricity products for sale into the residential electricity market. Responses were noted on Likert scales and were analysed using nonparametric statistical methodology. It was found that a high proportion (90.6 per cent) of the Capetonian consumers were concerned about the environment and a similarly highly number (86.9 per cent) are concerned about the environmental challenges that are currently faced as a result of global warming. It was found that 85.0 per cent of households in the respondent population currently make use of energy-saving light bulbs. However no significant links could be found between the use of generally-accepted greener technologies and the consumers’ willingness to pay more for green electricity. It was found that 61.7 per cent of the respondents were willing to spend an average of 15.4 per cent more as a premium in order to buy green electricity. It was further found that of the three purchasing methods suggested that green tags, or green receipts for pre-paid electricity were the most practical and the most likely to be widely accepted. Consumers preferred the option of choosing at every purchase whether they opt for green electricity or conventional power and this would be most easily managed via a pre-paid receipt system.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Towards the end of 2007, South Africa started experiencing widespread rolling electricity blackouts as the electricity demand exceeded the supply from energy giant Eskom. The crisis reached its tipping point when industries, including Sasol, were requested to reduce their electricity consumption by 10%. The purpose of this research was to identify alternative futures for Sasol in the light of the current electricity crisis. The scenario process was used to develop the following independent scenarios for Sasol: • Fuel to the fire. The country is amidst an ongoing nationwide electricity crisis and Sasol is still dependent on Eskom for more than 50% of its electricity demand. The end result is reduced turnover, shortage of liquid fuels and a decrease in Sasol’s contribution to the economy. • Ignorance is bliss. This is a world where Sasol is independent of Eskom for electricity supply despite the country’s continuing electricity crisis. Independence is ideal but unfortunately it comes at a cost. It is about taking painful action in the near term to forestall even more painful consequences in the future. • Blessing in disguise. Sasol is dependent on Eskom for the majority of its electricity requirement. The reliability of electricity supply in South Africa recovered and there is an overall awareness regarding energy efficiency and a positive adoption of alternative energy technologies. • Icing on the cake. Sasol is completely independent of Eskom and Eskom managed to restore the integrity of electricity supply. The end result, Sasol can continue with its planned growth and expansion. In order for the scenarios to be useful for Sasol, it is necessary to incorporate them into the strategic agenda. Some considerations include the gradual replacement of traditional fossil fuels, carbon capture and sequestration, advanced coal electricity generation (clean coal technology), increasing the use of renewable energy sources and developing the hydrogen economy.