Greenfan Blog

Despite the protests and continuing debate, it is clear that massive increase in the electricity price is imminent, and focus has began to shift towards ways and means of negating the effects of the hike on the pockets of the public.

Eskom is driving initiatives that strive toward the more efficient and conservative use of South Africa’s strained power supply. Eskom’s efforts are combined in a process known as Demand Side Management (DSM), which according to Eskom,  is “a comprehensive process in which the planning, implementation and monitoring of the consumer’s electricity use- and the modifying of this use- is considered against the levels of electricity available in the power grid which supplies the nation.”

The overarching goal of DSM is to keep the electricity supply flowing at a steady rate to avoid putting the system under undue pressure. By keeping the electricity flow constant, the system works at its optimal level and the costs associated with generating power are also contained.

The aim is a constant, reliable and affordable supply of electricity without major peaks and troughs in supply and demand. The DSM process has wide ranging benefits in terms of limiting the strain on the electricity network and reducing environmental damage, but it also creates opportunities for the introduction of funding for projects and products that will help to promote efficient electricity usage.

Eskom has realised that it needs the support of consumers and has thus introduced incentivised schemes to encourage the installation of energy efficient systems.

One such scheme is Eskom’s Solar Water Heating Programme, introduced at the beginning of 2008. This initiative. Eskom pay up to a 25% rebate on the installation of approved solar water heating systems directly to the consumer. This initiative forms part of a drive by government for renewable energy to contribute 10 000 gigawatt hours (GWh) of final energy consumption by 2013. Solar water heating could contribute up to 23% of this target.

So what does the rebate mean to the consumer?

Eskom will pay up to a 25% rebate on the installation of approved solar water heating systems directly to the consumer. This is a significant incentive to install a solar water geyser, which itself can reduce your heating bill by as much as 70%.

According to Eskom the rebate system is not in anyway exclusive. The requirements of a supplier to sell systems that qualify for rebates are the following:

• Be able to offer a 5 year guarantee
• Submit documents, including public liability and company details
• The system must have passed the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) tests, and comply with the South African National Standards (SANS) for thermal and mechanical performance and safety.
• The supplier of the system must be registered with SESSA (Sustainable Energy Society of South Africa) solar water heating division.

How does solar water heating work?

• A solar water heater is a combination of three elements:
• Solar collector – an energy device, designed to absorb solar radiation and transfer the energy to the energy transfer fluid or material passing through the collector.
• Energy transfer medium – a medium that through the process of conduction or convection, transfers the absorbed heat to the water. The type of material used is dependant on the design and needs of the installation. Where freezing of the transfer medium is a concern, the liquid used should be mixed with a non-toxic coloured anti-freeze liquid and a corrosion inhibitor.
• A thermally insulated hot water storage vessel or geyser with a protected inner lining, copper, steel or a polymer. There are solar water heating systems that work on a low pressure, but most are pressurised from 100 kPa to 600 kPa, depending on the materials used. (The Eskom programme will initially only rebate high pressure systems)

Evacuated heat pipe technology

So what does this all mean for the consumer?

The installation of a solar water heater makes environmental and economic sense and the benefits to consumers make it clear that using these systems will become common practice as the world becomes more environmentally and economically aware.

The systems can reduce CO2 emissions by over 3 tons per year.  If it is too cloudy the system switches to electric so your water is always hot. You can also cut your electricity bill by 35% for as long as the system is in place. A solar water geyser also increase the value of your house according to a recent study from the Appraisal Institute (USA)which demonstrated that the selling price of homes increased by R20 for every R1 decrease in annual utility bills. These benefits are over and above the rebate which is usually around R3 000 from Eskom’s Solar Water Heating Programme. This rebate will often cover the entire installation cost.

Go Solar Now in South Africa