D. Tech. Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics and Industrial Design / South Africa has limited reserve electricity resources and many parts of the country have limited access to electricity. Electricity production capacity is at maximum and almost each Giga watt is accounted for. Predictions suggest South Africa would have a serious electricity allocation problem in the very near future and current rolling blackout in many of our cities can attest to the looming problem. The energy crisis in South Africa has highlighted the need to increase electricity generation capacity and to search for alternative energy sources. Solar chimney plants could form part of the solution in the near future in South Africa to create additional power. This study aimed to develop a wind generation system in areas where wind is absent. A solar chimney power plant is expected to provide remote areas in South Africa with electric power, or to complement the current electricity grid. Solar energy and the psychometric state of the air are important to encourage the full development of a solar chimney power plant for the thermal and electrical production of energy for various uses. Research within the South African context and particularly on increasing the effectiveness of the solar chimney power plant technology is lacking; as such this study proposes the development of a solar chimney plant and associated technology to ensure the effectiveness of this plant.

Increased standards of living and indoor comfort demands have led to an increase in the demand for air-conditioning in buildings in South Africa. Conventional vapor compression systems use refrigerants that damage the ozone layer and contribute significantly to the global warming effect. Therefore, there is an urgent need to implement environmentally cleaner ways of satisfying this air-conditioning demand and absorption cooling systems have shown great potential to do so. This project is concerned with finding the technical and economic effectiveness of solar powered absorption cooling systems for South African climatic conditions. Solar cooling systems are made up of a solar collector array, water storage tank, absorption chiller and cooling tower for heat rejection. In this study, two complete systems, one utilizing an open wet cooling tower and another using a dry cooler were studied and their technical and economical performance analyzed. One system was installed at Netcare Moot Hospital in Pretoria and comprised of a solar collector array made up of 52 evacuated tube collectors, two 6000 litre hot water storage tanks, 35kW LiBr-water absorption chiller, and a wet cooling tower. This system was coupled to an existing vapor compression chiller so that cooling is provided even when no solar energy is available. The installation controlled and remotely monitored through the internet and parameters logged through a Carel Building Management System. The other system is at Vodacom World in Midrand, Johannesburg and is an autonomous solar heating and cooling system aimed at maintaining the building environment at comfort conditions throughout the year. It is made up of a 116m2 evacuated tube collector array, a 6500litre hot water storage tank, 35kW LiBr-Water absorption chiller, 1m3 of cold water storage, a dry cooler for the chiller, and two underground rock storages to pre-cool the supply air to the building and the dry cooler respectively. Long term system performance studies were carried out by varying the system control strategy for the chiller, hot water storage tank, existing vapor compression chiller (in the case of the Moot Hospital installation), hot water storage tank, dry cooler (for the Vodacom installation) and the system Coefficient of Performances were calculated and life cycle cost analysis carried out. Due to the fact that solar availability and cooling demand are approximately in phase, solar powered absorption cooling presents a great opportunity for reducing peak electrical cooling energy demand. It was also discovered that the economic effectiveness of the system increases with the absorption chiller capacity, and it‟s more advisable to operate the solar absorption cooling system with a vapor compression chiller as a backup for facilities that require uninterrupted cooling. The solar autonomous system is oversized for most of the year since it is designed to cover the peak cooling loads. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

In South Africa, a significant amount of electrical energy is used for air conditioning in commercial buildings, on account of the high humidity experienced. Due to its geographical location, the levels of solar irradiation and the demand for air-conditioning of commercial buildings reach maximum levels simultaneously. The South African region daily solar radiation average varies between 4.5 and 6.5 kWh/m2 and when compared to the United States 3.6 kWh/m2 and Europe’s 2.5 kWh/m2 , solar thermal powered cooling technologies has significant potential as this solar irradiation is also available all year around [1]. Utilizing solar energy for an air conditioning system has the advantage that the availability of solar radiation and the need for cooling reach maximum levels simultaneously and proportionally. This type of air conditioning system has an electrical energy saving benefit in light of increasing energy tariffs and the energy crisis currently facing Eskom in South Africa. Solar-assisted Absorption Cooling systems decreases the peak electricity consumption, is less noisy and vibration free, since it does not contain a compressor and this gives a higher reliability, low maintenance and its electricity consumption is approximately four times less (21.8kW versus 5.5kW for 35kW of Cooling) than that of an electric driven chiller containing a mechanical compressor [2]. However, due to the high capital cost of solar powered air-conditioning plants, it is essential that a feasibility analysis be undertaken to indicate and establish a return on capital investment. The main objective of the present study is to investigate and establish the feasibility of a solar-assisted air-conditioning system based on Lithium Bromide and Water (LiBr/H2O) absorption chillers on a medium scale for commercial buildings in terms of energy saving and performance. This study presents the results of the experiment on a solar-assisted air-conditioning facility constructed and installed in October 2009 at Pretoria’s Netcare Moot Hospital. This study has confirmed that a payback period of 13 months can be achieved and the performance parameters of the manufacturer’s specifications for a solar-assisted air conditioning system are exceeded for the South African climate. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

The purpose of this study was to investigate and suggest technologies that need to be considered by the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality management in order to alleviate electricity power shortages. It is very important to address the problems of electricity power shortages in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality since it affects the households, offices and factories and it creates a negative image about the economic viability and investment opportunities in South Africa. Since ESKOM supplies electricity to the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, they both require solutions that can sustain electricity availability for the current and future consumption by the households and the South African economy. It is of importance to report that the main causes of power shortages are the energy, capacity and the reserve margin constraints in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. The methodology used for this research was a mixed methods type of research. The literature review led to the formulation of research questionnaires that were subsequently used as the main tools for sourcing data in order to conduct an empirical study for this research. The empirical study was used to combine the quantitative and the qualitative research methodology in one research. The respondents to the structured and self-administered questionnaires comprised Beacon Bay and Mdantsane households that owned Solar Water Heaters. The other respondents that were interviewed with the aid of semi-structured questionnaires comprised ESKOM and the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality management teams. The responses from all the respondents were collected, arranged and presented in tables and graphs for the purpose of analysing and thereafter to report the outcomes. The outcomes were compared to the literature reviewed to test whether there is congruence between the two. This was done for the purpose of answering the following research question: Can alternative energy in the form of solar be a solution in improving power shortage in the Buffalo City Metro? Renewable energy was among the suggested solutions that were tested in other countries and found to be reliable. Renewable energy is divided into Solar Power Technology, Wind Power Technology, Small Hydro generation power, Biomass and other technologies. The Solar Power Technology is divided into three forms of energy. The first technology was Solar Photovoltaic Power, Concentrating Solar Power and the Solar Water Heating. The focus of this study was to investigate whether the use of Solar Power Technology in the form of Solar Water Heating can alleviate electricity power shortages in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. The other renewable energy technologies are reported as the limitations in this research that created opportunities for further research. The literature and empirical studies confirmed that the use of Solar Water Heaters alleviate power shortages in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality since most of the respondents agreed that when Solar Water Heaters are installed and used in the households, electricity power is saved. The respondents further agreed that since Solar Water Heaters use the sun to heat water they do not use electric geysers anymore. They further agreed that a decrease in electricity expenses per household, per day, per month and per annum has been achieved due to the use of Solar Water Heaters. The Solar Water Heaters were reported by most respondents as confirmed in the literature that they are reliable since they do not trip when there is a planned or an emergency power outages in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality area because they are powered by the sunlight. They are safe and have a longer economic life. They can be used in areas that do not have existing power supply. The key findings were that, both quantitative and qualitative results yielded results that were congruent with the literature reviewed. The congruence was reported in terms of electricity power saving, reduction in electricity expenses, per household, its reliability, the longer economic life and the safety of Solar Water Heaters. The installation of Solar Water Heaters has proven to be a good decision since they alleviated power shortages in the households that are in the rural areas, townships and in the upmarket residential places. It was recommended to the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality and ESKOM management to install more Solar Water Heaters and to increase the subsidies for the buyers of Solar Water Heaters especially the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality; to increase the marketing of Solar Water Heaters and to further educate electricity users about the Demand Side Management. This approach will encourage electricity users to reduce their demand for electricity in order to reap the benefits of power savings and sustainability of electricity supply for the potential increase of the economy in Eastern Cape Province.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Scientists agree that the rising electricity usage of the rapidly growing human race to improve its standard of living is negatively affecting the environment. To create a sustainable environment for future generations, renewable and environmentally friendly resources have to be exchanged for the present finite resources. In South Africa, coal plants are responsible for more than 90% of the electricity production. This means that action has to be taken now to start a process of change to sustainable electricity resources. This study focused on the South African solar industry. Due to the high sun radiation levels, solar technology is one of the renewable energy sources with the greatest potential. The industry is in its infancy, characterised by accelerated growth expectancy and fuelled by factors such as government subsidies, the fluctuations of fossil fuel prices and the increasing focus on economical long-term sustainability. The expected growth necessitates a focus on the market positioning of solar service providers in the Western Cape with the aim of taking full advantage of the opportunities associated with this industry. The main objective of this study was to determine the current structure of the solar service provider value chain and subsequently areas of improvement to increase growth, stakeholder satisfaction and sustainability. A literature review was conducted to address the research objective, relevant approaches and the broader electricity industry. Porter’s Value Chain approach was used as a foundation for the adaptation to the solar service provider value chain. Porter’s Five Forces model was also used as a secondary approach, which analysed the competitive environment of the solar service provider industry in the Western Cape. The methodology entailed a qualitative research approach in the form of semi-structured interviews. All respondents were general managers or owners of a solar service provider, who were interviewed face to face. The study focused on the entire population of solar service providers in the Western Cape. Seventy-seven different service providers were targeted, of which 18 were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using content and frequency analysis. To guarantee reliability, a pilot study was conducted to ensure that the questionnaire was understood by the respondents. The validity of this study is gauged as high as the entire population was targeted and the results can be broadly generalised. The findings show that customer service is the foremost value driver for solar service providers. This entails the actual installation of the product as well as the people skills of the installation team. As most customers only have to be served once due to the long life span of the products, marketing also plays an obvious role in attracting new customers. The most important outcome of this study is the determination and a better understanding of the solar service provider value chain in South Africa. The recommendations, especially with regard to marketing and service elements, could improve the performance of solar service providers. The consequence could be an increase in stakeholder satisfaction and an enhanced usage of solar energy in South Africa. Future research should focus on customers to reveal preferences and opportunities for marketing approaches. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wetenskaplikes is dit eens dat die snelgroeiende mensdom se stygende elektrisiteitsverbruik ten einde hul lewenstandaard te verhoog, die omgewing benadeel. Om ’n volhoubare omgewing vir toekomstige geslagte te skep, sal die huidige beperkte hulpbronne met hernubare en omgewingsvriendelike hulpbronne vervang moet word. In Suid-Afrika is steenkoolaanlegte verantwoordelik vir meer as 90% van die land se elektrisiteitsproduksie. Dít beteken dat daar nóú opgetree moet word om ’n proses van oorskakeling na volhoubare elektrisiteitshulpbronne aan die gang te sit. Hierdie studie konsentreer op die Suid-Afrikaanse sonenergiebedryf. Weens die hoë sonstralingsvlakke wat die land ervaar, is sonenergietegnologie een van die hernubare energiebronne met die grootste potensiaal. Die bedryf staan nog in sy kinderskoene en word gekenmerk deur ’n verwagting van al hoe vinniger groei, wat aangedryf word deur faktore soos staatsubsidies, skommelinge in fossielbrandstofpryse en ’n toenemende klem op ekonomiese langtermynvolhoubaarheid. Die verwagte groei noodsaak ’n ondersoek na die markplasing van sonenergiediensverskaffers in die Wes-Kaap ten einde die geleenthede verbonde aan hierdie bedryf ten volle te benut. Die hoofdoel van hierdie studie was om die huidige struktuur van die waardeketting van sonenergiediensverskaffers, en gevolglik ook moontlike verbeteringe vir groter groei, belanghebbende-tevredenheid en volhoubaarheid, te bepaal. ’n Literatuuroorsig is onderneem om die navorsingsoogmerk, tersaaklike benaderinge en die groter elektrisiteitsbedryf in konteks te beskou. Porter se waardekettingbenadering het as grondslag gedien vir aanpassing by die waardeketting van sonenergiediensverskaffers. Daarbenewens is Porter se model van vyf kragte as sekondêre benadering ingespan om die mededingende omgewing in die sonenergiediensverskaffersbedryf in die Wes-Kaap te ontleed. Die studiemetodologie het ’n kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering in die vorm van semigestruktureerde onderhoude behels. Alle respondente is algemene bestuurders of eienaars van ’n sonenergiediensverskaffer en het aan persoonlike onderhoude deelgeneem. Die studie het op die algehele populasie van sonenergiediensverskaffers in die Wes-Kaap gekonsentreer. Die teikengroep was 77 verskillende diensverskaffers, van wie 18 aan onderhoude deelgeneem het. Die onderhoude is getranskribeer en met behulp van inhouds- en frekwensie-analise ontleed. Betroubaarheid is gewaarborg deur middel van ’n loodsstudie om te verseker dat die respondente die vraelys sou verstaan. Aangesien die hele populasie as teikengroep gedien het en die resultate dus in die breë veralgemeen kan word, word hierdie studie as uiters geldig beskou. Die bevindinge toon dat kliëntediens die grootste waarde-aandrywer vir sonenergiediensverskaffers is. Dít behels die praktiese installering van die produk sowel as die mensevaardighede van die installasiespan. Aangesien die meeste kliënte weens die lang gebruiksduur van die produkte slegs een maal bedien hoef te word, speel bemarking ook ’n voor die hand liggende rol om nuwe kliënte te lok. Die belangrikste uitkoms van hierdie studie is die bepaling en beter begrip van die waardeketting van sonenergiediensverskaffers in Suid-Afrika. Die aanbevelings, veral met betrekking tot bemarkings- en dienselemente, kan sodanige verskaffers se prestasie verbeter. Dít kan weer tot groter belanghebbende-tevredenheid sowel as meer sonenergie-aanwending in Suid-Afrika lei. Toekomstige navorsing behoort op kliënte te konsentreer om hulle voorkeure, en dus ook moontlike bemarkingsgeleenthede, te bepaal.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa faces an energy crisis which presents itself in two forms; electricity generation dominated by coal fired power stations and current electricity supply capacity being unable to meet growth in demand. South Africa urgently requires new generation capacity: however, power stations take time to plan, construct and commission, meaning that South Africa has to consider other options to meet electricity demand. This necessitates quick and innovative ways of meeting future demand. Energy efficiency has been identified as “a low hanging fruit” on the energy tree to address supply constraints and reduce energy related greenhouse gas emissions. There are various energy efficiency programmes aimed at raising awareness of measures that households can take to reduce energy consumption. Some of South Africa’s key objectives of energy efficiency in the residential sector are to mitigate the effect of peak demand on power capacity and to introduce state of the art technologies. In terms of these technologies, there is an overlap between energy efficiency and renewable energy. The widespread installation of renewable energy technologies such as SWHs has the potential to delay the need to construct new power stations. SWHs are a viable renewable energy option for South Africa. It is a mature and proven technology with the potential to address South Africa’s electricity capacity problems. Not only does a SWH provide financial savings to the customer in the long run but it offers the additional benefit of a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to society. Although awareness of the benefits of solar water heaters is increasing, SWH uptake remains low. However the uptake is increasing due to; a SWH rebate offered through Eskom, electricity price increases which are forcing consumers to seek alternatives and a national building code requiring energy efficient water heating in new buildings which is expected to come into effect in 2012. Liquid Petroleum Gas is a low carbon emitting source of fuel for cooking. In South Africa, middle–high income households rely on the electric stove for cooking. Cooking contributes to electricity peak demand. Reducing electricity demand by replacing the electric stove would help in reducing electricity peak demand from the grid. LPG use has been increasing due to the following reasons; electricity supply shortages, shifting government policy on LPG and increasing electricity tariffs forcing lifestyle changes. This case study sought to investigate the opportunities, as well as the barriers for a Stellenbosch municipality - initiated energy efficiency programme. In terms of energy supply and demand management, the municipality has identified energy efficiency and the introduction of renewable energy sources as options for achieving sustainability. One of the barriers facing energy efficient technologies is up-front costs in the case of SWHs and the cost of appropriate equipment such as gas stoves in the case LPG. The study sought to investigate financial mechanisms that the municipality could use to overcome these barriers and promote the use of SWH and gas stove in the residential sector. Data was collected through a combination of a mini Delphi – expert opinion technique, questionnaires, secondary data analysis, telephone and personal interviews with solar water heater industry stakeholders, LPG industry stakeholders and municipal officials. The conclusion drawn from this research is that Stellenbosch Municipality can initiate its own energy efficiency programme instead of waiting for national government. Although the municipality can initiate an energy efficiency programme, it needs to find another institution to fund the programme. Funding mechanisms however do overcome the barrier of high up -front costs and high gas equipment costs making energy efficient technologies affordable. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika staan voor ʼn energiekrisis wat op twee maniere gestalte kry: elektrisiteitsopwekking wat oorheers word deur steenkoolkragstasies en huidige elektrisiteitsvoorsieningsvermoë wat nie in die groeiende aanvraag kan voorsien nie. Suid-Afrika benodig dringend nuwe kragontwikkelingsvermoë. Dit neem egter tyd om kragstasies te beplan, op te rig en in diens te stel, wat beteken dat Suid-Afrika ander opsies moet oorweeg om in elektrisiteitsaanvraag te voorsien. Dit noodsaak vinnige en innoverende maniere om in toekomstige aanvraag te voorsien. Energierendement is as “ʼn laaghangende vrug” op die energieboom geïdentifiseer ten einde beperkings in kragvoorsiening die hoof te bied en kweekhuisgasuitlatings wat met energie verband hou te verminder. Daar is verskeie energiebesparingsprogramme wat ten doel het om die bewustheid te versterk van maatreëls wat huishoudings kan volg om energieverbruik te verminder. Van Suid-Afrika se vernaamste doelstellings ten opsigte van energierendement in die residensiële sektor is om die uitwerking van spitsaanvraag op kragvermoë te verlig en om die jongste tegnologie in te voer. Ingevolge hierdie tegnologieë is daar ʼn oorvleueling tussen energierendement en hernubare energie. Die algemene installering van hernubare energietegnologieë, soos sonkragwaterverwarming (SWV), het die potensiaal om die noodsaaklikheid van die oprigting van nuwe kragstasies uit te stel. SWV is ʼn lewensvatbare nuwe energieopsie vir Suid-Afrika. Dit is ʼn ontwikkelde en bewese tegnologie met die potensiaal om Suid-Afrika se probleme ten opsigte van elektrisiteitsvermoë die hoof te bied. SWV sorg nie slegs vir die kliënt vir finansiële besparing op die lang duur nie, maar dit bied ook vir die samelewing die bykomende voordeel van ʼn afname in kweekhuisgasuitlatings. Alhoewel die bewustheid van die voordele van sonkragwaterverwarming toeneem, bly die gebruik van SWV laag. Die gebruik is egter besig om toe te neem vanweë ʼn SWV-korting wat deur Eskom aangebied word, elektrisiteitsprysverhogings wat verbruikers dwing om alternatiewe te soek, en ʼn nasionale boureglement wat energiedoeltreffende waterverwarming in nuwe geboue vereis en wat na verwagting in 2012 in werking sal tree. Vloeibare petroleumgas is ʼn brandstofbron wat vir kook gebruik word en wat ʼn lae koolstofvrystelling het. In Suid-Afrika gebruik huishoudings met ʼn middelhoë inkomste die elektriese stoof om te kook. Kook dra by tot elektrisiteitspitsaanvraag. Die vermindering in elektrisiteitsaanvraag deur die vervanging van die elektriese stoof kan help om die elektrisiteitspitsaanvraag op die netwerk te verlaag. Die gebruik van VPG het toegeneem weens die volgende redes: elektrisiteitsvoorsieningstekorte, veranderende regeringsbeleid ten opsigte van VPG en die verhoging in elektrisiteitstariewe wat veranderinge in lewenstyl afdwing. Hierdie gevallestudie het gepoog om die geleenthede, sowel as die hindernisse vir ʼn energierendementprogram wat deur Stellenbosch Munisipaliteit geïnisieer is, te ondersoek. Ten opsigte van energievoorsiening en -aanvraagbestuur het die munisipaliteit energierendement geïdentifiseer en die ingebruikneming van hernubare-energiebronne as opsies om volhoubaarheid te bereik. Een van die hindernisse waarvoor energierenderende tegnologieë te staan kom, is voorkostes in die geval van SWV en die koste van toepaslike toerusting soos gasstowe in die geval VPG. Die studie het ondersoek ingestel na die finansiële meganismes wat die munisipaliteit sou kon gebruik om hierdie hindernisse te bowe te kom en die gebruik van SWV en gasstowe in die residensiële sektor te bevorder. Data is ingevorder deur middel van ʼn kombinasie van ʼn mini-Delphi – kennermeningtegniek, vraelyste, sekondêre data-ontleding, telefoon- en persoonlike onderhoude met belanghebbendes in die sonkragwaterverwarmingsbedryf, belanghebbendes in die VPG-bedryf en munisipale amptenare. Die gevolgtrekking wat uit hierdie navorsing gemaak word, is dat Stellenbosch Munisipaliteit sy eie energierendementprogram kan inisieer in plaas daarvan om vir nasionale regering te wag. Alhoewel die munisipaliteit ʼn energierendementprogram kan inisieer, moet dit ʼn ander instelling kry om die program te befonds. Befondsingsmeganismes oorkom egter die struikelblok van hoë voorkostes en hoë kostes van gastoerusting wat energierenderende tegnologieë bekostigbaar maak.

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.

MSc (Physics) / Department of Physics

MSc (Physics) / Department of Physics

MSc (Physics) / Department of Physics