Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / The government has stated its intentions to increase the usage of solar water heating (SWH) through its National Solar Water Heater Programme (NSWHP). As described in the report, increased adoption of SWH would have a number of benefits for South Africa. Firstly, replacement of electric geysers by SWHs would contribute to the meeting of energy efficiency targets through the reduction of energy consumption. Secondly, the widespread adoption of SWHs would help SA to meet its renewable energy targets. Thirdly, it would result in growth in the SWH industry, including the manufacturing, installation and related sectors, thereby contributing to an increase in 'green' jobs. It would have the socio-economic benefit of energy security for South Africans. The research report looks at the factors influencing the SWH industry's future growth from the point of view of the suppliers. It considers the interplay between consumers (market demand), government (public policy measures) and suppliers (businesses providing services related to SWH) to determine how government can support industry, how suppliers can grow their business and industry and how government and industry can work together to create the conditions for sustained market demand. As is discussed in the literature review, there are certain barriers to the adoption of SWH technology. As such, government intervention is needed to help overcome these barriers. The literature review recounts the available policy tools and considers how these have been applied in other countries to stimulate demand for SWHs and to support the local industry. The research report takes the form of a survey of SWH suppliers with the following aims: - To describe the industry in terms of its age, maturity and ability to scale up; - To determine the major barriers to the industry's growth; - To specify the appropriate public policy tools to overcome these obstacles to growth; - To establish how confident the industry is in the NSWHP and government efforts to promote the industry; - To provide a list of key success factors that are required for the industry's long-term, sustainable development. The report concludes that there are three criteria that would help the industry to become sustainable: market demand certainty, investment confidence and positive competition. Certainty of future market demand would build confidence in the industry for investors. In turn, increased investment would benefit the forces of positive competition.

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 (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Low-income households in the Western Cape primarily use small electrical kettles to heat water for bathing and cleaning. This energy usage pattern is problematic in that; • It is based on unsustainable energy sources that cause environmental degradation, • Electricity is becoming more expensive in South Africa which strains the limited income of poorer households and • The national utility, Eskom, is struggling to meet the demand for electricity. If energy-intensive development paths are followed these problems will escalate further. Solar water heating offers a synergic (Max-Neef 1991), if partial, solution for the situation. By decoupling hot water usage from increased electricity usage, solar water heaters (SWHs) can reduce electricity demand and thus environmental degradation. The large quantities of hot water (relative to electrical kettles) that they provide also fulfil a developmental service by improving quality of life and personal health. The manufacturing and installation of solar water heaters could serve as a further catalyst for development by providing opportunities for economic development. Unfortunately the high capital cost of SWHs remains a barrier to the rollout of the technology in lower income groups. The objective of this thesis is to contribute to the elimination of this barrier through providing insight into; the hot water requirements of low-income households, the potential electricity and carbon emission savings that solar water heaters present, and the cost drivers and job creation potential of the solar water heating value chain. The research hypothesis is that: Solar water heaters (SWHs) are a potential synergic satisfier to achieve sustainable development in low income communities by providing an improved energy service, reducing environmental degradation and creating employment opportunities. The high price of the technology makes intervention in the form of subsidies and/or regulation from the appropriate level(s) of government critical for the realisation of this potential. The methodology used to test the hypothesis is quantitative and qualitative in nature with data obtained through a survey of 90 low-income households in Stellenbosch, a behavioural study of two households wherein solar water heaters were installed and a value chain analysis of the SWH industry in the Western Cape. The key findings of the research include that, SWHs offer a real improvement in quality of life for low-income households and that they reduce electricity consumption relative to a level of development. The key barrier to cost reductions in the solar water heating industry is found to be the small size of the industry which leads to an inability to source material, especially copper, at competitive prices. It is proposed that government sponsored rollout programs could alleviate this barrier, leading to the development of a robust industry. Job creation potential is found to be relatively small but a suggested rollout programme for SWHs in the Western Cape shows that the benefits of the technology can be realised and several thousand jobs created in a fiscally prudent manner. The thesis is focuses on households from LSM categories 5-8 in the Western Cape Province. Stellenbosch Municipality is used as a specific case study area. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Lae-inkomste huishoudings in die Wes-Kaap gebruik klein elektriese ketels as hul primêre water verhittingstoestel vir bad en skoonmaak aktiwiteite. Hierdie energie verbruik patroon is problematies in dat; • Dit gebaseer is op onvolhoubare energie bronne wat skadelik is vir die omgewing, • Elektrisiteit duurder word in suid afrika, en sodoende druk plaas op die beperkete inkomste van armer huishoudings en • Die nasionale elektrisiteitsdiensverskaffer, eskom, sukkel om te voldoen aan die vraag vir elektrisiteit. As energie-intensiewe ontwikkelings paaie gevolg word sal hierdie probleme verder vererger. Son water verhitting bied 'n sinergiese (Max-Neef 1991), dog gedeeltelike, oplossing vir die situasie. Deur warm water verbruik te ontkoppel van toenemende elektrisiteitsverbruik kan son water verwarmers (SWVs) die vraag na elektrisiteit en dus omgewingskade verminder. Die groot hoeveelhede warm water (relatief tot 'n elektriese ketel) wat die toestelle voorsien vervul ook 'n ontwikkelingsdiens deur verbeterde lewenskwaliteit en persoonlike gesondheid mee te bring. Die vervaardiging en installeering van SWVs kan dien as 'n verdere katalisator vir ontwikkeling deur geleenthede vir ekonomiese ontwikkeling te skep. Ongelukkig bly die hoë kapitaal koste van SWVs 'n struikelblok tot die verspreiding van die tegnologie in lae inkomste groepe. Die doelwit van hierdie tesis is om by te dra tot die verwydering van hierdie struikelblok deur insig te gee oor; die warm water benodigheid in lae-inkomste huishoudings, die potensiële elektrisiteit-en koolstofbesparings wat SWVs inhou, en die koste drywers en werkskepping potensiaal van die sonwaterverwarmer waarde ketting. Die navorsingshipotese is dat: Son water verwarmers 'n potensiële sinergiese bevrediger is vir die bereik van volhoubare ontwikkeling in lae-inkomse gemeenskappe deurdat dit 'n verbeterde energie diens voorsien, omgewingskade verminder en werksgeleenthede skep. Die hoë prys van die tegnologie verorsaak dat ingryping deur die toepaslike vlak(ke) van regering, deur middel van subsidies en/of regulasie, benodig word om die potensiaal daarvan te verwesenlik. Die metodologie wat gebruik word om die hipotese te toets is kwantitatief en kwalitatief van aard met data wat verkry word deur 'n opname onder 90 lae-inkomste huishoudings in Stellenbosch, 'n gedragstudie van twee huishoudings waarin SWVs geinstalleer is en 'n waardekettinganalise van die SWV industrie in die Wes-Kaap. Die sleutel gevolgtrekkings van die navorsing sluit in dat, sonwaterverwarmers 'n werklike verbetering in die kwaliteit van lewe van lae-inkomste huishoudings meebring en dat hulle elektrisiteitsverbruik relatief tot 'n vlak van ontwikkeling verminder. Die hoof struikelblok tot koste verminderings in die SWV industrie word gevind in die klein grootte van die industrie wat lei tot die onvermoë om materiaal, veral koper, teen kompeterende pryse aan te koop. Dit word voorgestel dat regeringsondersteunde verspreidingsprogramme hierdie struikelblok kan verwyder en dat dit sal lei tot die ontwikkeling van 'n gesonde industrie. Werkskeppingspotensiaal word gevind om relatief klein te wees, maar 'n voorgestelde verspreidings program vir SWVs in die Wes-Kaap wys dat die voordele van SWVs gerealiseer kan word en etlike duisend werksgeleenthede geskep kan word op 'n finansieel verantwoordelike wyse. Die tesis fokus op huishoudings in die LSM kategorieë 5-8 in die Wes-Kaap provinsie. Stellenbosch munisipaliteit word gebruik as n spesifieke gevallestudie area. / Sponsored by the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies

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 (MDF (Development Finance))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study focuses on the level of acceptance, awareness, and willingness to pay for a solar water heater in Cape Town. When referring to 'acceptance' the study is referring to a respondent's preparedness to adopt the use of a solar water heater and to have one installed at his/her home. When referring to the respondent's 'awareness', reference is made to the degree of knowledge a respondent possesses about the use and basic functioning of solar water heaters. The 'willingness to pay' is an indication of a respondent's preparedness to pay for a solar water heater and how much he/she is prepared to pay. This research was initiated because it was felt that more households in the middle and upper-income sector should be making use of solar water heaters in Cape Town in an effort to reduce their electricity consumption. Furthermore, it is in this income sector that we find the greatest consumption of electricity for the sale purpose of heating water. A questionnaire was compiled to gauge the knowledge, opinion and acceptance of solar water heaters in Cape Town. These questionnaires were distributed in various suburbs within Cape Town, and focused on middle-income to upper-income groups. The middle and upper-income households would install solar water heaters if they received an incentive such as state subsidies. These households also need further education in relation to solar water heaters because their knowledge in this regard seems limited. Aesthetics and costs also seem to influence whether the middle and upper-income group would install solar water heaters, and income may also play a role in group affiliation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing fokus op die aanvaarding, bewustheid en bereidheid om vir sonkrag waterverhitters te betaal in Kaapstad. Die verwysing na 'aanvaarding' dui op die respondent se gewilligheid om die sonkrag-waterverhitter te gebruik en om een in sy/haar huis te installeer. Die verwysing na die respondente se 'bewustheid', dui op hulle kennis oor die basiese werking van 'n sonkrag-waterverhitter. Die 'bereidheid' om te betaal is 'n aanduiding van die respondent se bereidheid om te betaal vir 'n sonkrag-waterverhitter en hoeveel hy/sy bereid is om daarvoor te betaal. Hierdie navorsing is onderneem omdat die gevoel bestaan dat nie baie huise in die middel- en hoe-inkomste huishoudings gebruik maak van 'n sonkrag-waterverhitter om hul elektrisiteitsverbruik te verminder nie. Die huishoudings in hierdie inkomstesegment is die grootste verbruikers van elektrisiteit slegs vir die verhitting van water. 'n Vraelys is opgestel om die kennis, opinie, en aanvaarding van sonkrag-waterverhitters in Kaapstad te bepaal. Die vraelyste is in verskeie woongebiede in Kaapstad versprei, met 'n fokus op die middel- en hoë-inkomste huishoudings. Die huishoudings in die middel- en hoë-inkomstesegment sal sonkrag-waterverhitters installeer as hulle 'n aansporing kry soos 'n staatsubsidie. Die respondente van die middel en hoë-inkomste huishoudings het verdere opvoeding nodig rakende sonkragwaterverhitters, want hul kennis in die verband is min. Dit blyk of estetiese en koste-oorwegings die middel- en hoë-inkomste huishoudings beinvloed met betrekking tot die installasie van sonkrag-waterverhitters, en inkomste mag ook 'n rol speel ten opsigte van groepaffiliasie.