Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa has a mean annual precipitation far lower than the global average. This is a
fundamental constraint to development, especially when the country has already run out of surplus water and dilution capacity. To add further pressure, Southern Africa’s water resources are expected
to decrease as a result of climate change. Despite the potential devastation, the country’s response
to climate change has been limited. South Africa’s energy sector is dominated by coal power stations
and is the country’s primary emitter of carbon dioxide. Given the significantly higher water usage of
coal-fired power plants compared to that of most renewable energy power plants, the transition to a
clean energy infrastructure might be more successfully motivated by water scarcity than by the
promise of reduced carbon emissions. This article analyses more critically the impact of coal-fired
electricity generation on South Africa’s water resources, by estimating a water-use figure that
extends backwards from the power plant to include water used during extraction of the coal. This
figure can then be compared to the water usage of alternative electricity generation options. It is
then possible to estimate how much water could be saved by substituting these alternatives in place
of additional coal-fired plants. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika se gemiddelde jaarlikse neerslag is baie laer as die wêreldwye gemiddelde. Dit plaas ’n
wesenlike beperking op ontwikkeling, veral aangesien die land se surplus water- en
verdunningskapasiteit reeds uitgeput is. Om die saak verder te vererger, word verwag dat Suidelike Afrika se waterbronne gaan kleiner word as gevolg van klimaatsverandering. Ten spyte van die
potensiële ramp, was die land se reaksie op klimaatsverandering tot dusver baie beperk.
Steenkoolkragstasies, wat Suid-Afrika se energiesektor oorheers, is die land se primêre bron van
koolstofdioksieduitlating. Gegewe die beduidend hoër waterverbruik van steenkoolkragstasies
teenoor dié van die meeste kragstasies wat met hernubare energie werk, kan die verandering na ’n
skoonenergie-infrastruktuur meer suksesvol gemotiveer word deur waterskaarste as deur die
belofte van verminderde koolstofuitlatings. Hierdie artikel analiseer die impak van
steenkoolgedrewe elektrisiteitsopwekking op Suid-Afrika se waterbronne meer krities deur te
beraam hoeveel water verbruik word van die kragstasie terug tot by die ontginning van die
steenkool. Hierdie syfer kan dan vergelyk word met die waterverbruik van alternatiewe
kragopwekkingsopsies. Dit is dan moontlik om te beraam hoeveel water gespaar kan word deur
hierdie alternatiewe op te rig in plaas van bykomende steenkoolkragstasies.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/18158 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Wassung, Natalie |
| Contributors | University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of School of Public Leadership. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | [59 p.] : ill. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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