Solar Cells Info

I-Net Bridge, Jan 23, 2008
Source: The Times of Zambia
http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=690040

Embattled energy utility Eskom intends to incentivise electricity users for switching from coal-generated electricity to solar power, South African state news agency BuaNews said. The report comes as South Africans face at least five years of power shortages as Eskom upgrades its electricity generation capacity to cater for booming demand. According to Eskom, the solar incentive programme will centre on solar water heating, which energy experts say account for between 30% and 50% of household electricity consumption. The incentive scheme, which could be rolled out within weeks, will see the selling price of solar systems reduced.

“Consumers will receive the discount directly from the dealer where they buy their solar system, provided that the product and the supplier have been registered on the programme, and that the installation is done by an installer registered on the programme,” Eskom stated on its site.

Eskom spokesperson Sibusiso Duma told BuaNews that auditors had sent an expression of interest request to 80 solar power equipment suppliers and their responses to the call were currently being processed. At present, the process for a number of suppliers is currently under way and the first suppliers will be registered within the next two weeks, Duma said.

“For a supplier to be registered on the programme, they have to comply with various criteria, such as, among others, financial and credit checks.  This is vital so that Eskom can ensure a quality product is supplied to residents by a reputable solar supplier,” said Duma.

Eskom’s solar calculator, which recommends specific solar systems to suit particular needs, estimated that a Johannesburg household of four that pays 30 cents per kWh could expect to pay an average of 13,217 rand for a solar heating system. Such a system has a potential saving of 2,849 kWh and an annual energy saving of 854.70 rand a year.

It is believed that each hour the earth receives more energy than the world can use in a full year. Out of this abundance of incoming energy South Africa has one of the highest levels of solar radiation in the world at around 1,450kWh/m2 to about 1,950kWh/m2 per year, compared to Europe with an average of 910kWh/m2 per year.

But despite this South Africa has lagged other countries in the move to increase the use of solar power in the energy mix. Countries such as Germany, Israel, Canada, the US and even Namibia are making strides in solar use, and even those that have far less solar radiation than South Africa have high numbers of solar systems in use. Regarding load shedding, Eskom said electricity supply remained tight.

Duma said the utility was investigating power rationing, adding that there was a high possibility that this could soon be implemented in South Africa. “The principle is that people would be requested to cut off their power usage by a certain percentage and there would be financial penalties if they go above their quota, while financial incentives would be rewarded if they use below (their quota),” Duma explained.