Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) has initiated an innovative process to provide alternative energy sources for its residents.

A tender advertised by the municipality in February 2006 attracted huge national and international interest. Bidders submitted proposals amounting to approximately R9 billion, and feasibility studies are currently underway.

"Global Warming is a concern to all of us and we must therefore do everything in our power to ensure that we become much more environmentally friendly," said Executive Mayor Nondumiso Maphazi in a press release issued by the municipality.

• Lereko Energy Consortium (for wind turbines, solar heating, and electricity generation from waste);
• Thermo-Rec (for electricity generation from solid waste); and
• Enercon India (for a large scale wind farm) being a 100% subsidiary of EIL South Africa Power Development (Pty) Ltd.

The use of solar water heating systems both for individual households and industry is a technology that can be implemented with ease, the press release stated. The cost of such systems can be recovered within a few years.

If such a programme is implemented on a large scale it will also stimulate the increase of local production of these systems, with a positive effect on the creation of jobs.

The possible installation of small and large wind turbines will also be evaluated. With Port Elizabeth being labelled the windy city such projects should prove viable for implementation.

Another type of technology to be used is the thermal decomposition of solid waste and sewage sludge, from waste disposal sites and the Fish Water Flats reclamation works. The electricity generated from this fuel source will be added to the local electricity grid.

Additional water purification and proposed desalinisation technologies have been included in the proposal. These downstream benefits could also have a significant impact to the municipality’s future capital investment infrastructure programmes.

"The NMBM is to be congratulated on its bold approach to tackling their environmental and energy challenges. This initiative paves the way for the large-scale implementation of proven renewable energy technology throughout the country. We are excited to be leading this groundbreaking series of projects," said Crispian Olver, Lereko Energy’s Chief Executive Officer.

Renewable energy sources have always been seen to be far more expensive that conventional energy. However, with the availability of international and national funding initiativesl, such projects should prove viable in NMBM.

Background

The International Framework Convention on Climate Change (IFCCC) was created to address the problem of global warming. Under the IFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol (KP) was adopted to enforce the commitments of the countries that signed the treaty.

South Africa ratified the KP in 2002, and stands to benefit from mechanisms such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which allows for the transfer of clean technology to South Africa to assist in the lowering of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and to contribute to national sustainable development goals.

In November 2003, the South African government released a white paper on Renewable Energy. The focus of this white paper is to establish government's principles, goals and objectives on renewable energy. It identifies many energy issues, and sets targets for the future contribution of renewable energy to South Africa’s energy sector.

According to this policy at least 10 000 GWh (gigawatt-hours) of electricity needs to be generated by renewable sources by 2013.

Read the full story, posted on mandelametro.gov.za.

Source: Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality