Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Basic Energy and Climate Change Adaptation (South Africa)

Pays : South Africa

Lead executing agency : Department of Minerals and Energy Affairs

Partner : Central Energy Fund (CEF), University of Johannesburg, Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa (PASASA)

Commissioned by : German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)

Overall term : 2008 to 2010

Context
South Africa’s energy usage is as diverse as its economy which is characterised by the developed and developing sectors. In the developed sector, households and businesses are reliant on coal-generated electricity while those in the developing sector are reliant on biomass and paraffin for meeting their day-to-day energy needs. However, these energy resources make a considerable contribution to the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. Approximately four million households depend on biomass and paraffin daily for their energy requirements, consuming 11 million tons of biomass and in excess of 500 million tons of paraffin annually. To date there has been very little emphasis on the promotion of household energy efficiency or environmentally sound technologies either because they are unknown to users, unobtainable or too expensive. South Africa has for decades kept electricity prices amongst the lowest in the world in order to attract energy-intensive industries such as the production of steel and smelting of aluminium. Massive price increases are presently being mooted as Eskom, the government utility for electricity generation, plans to invest in new capacity to meet present and future demand. The increase in the price of electricity is expected to place an even greater dependence on biomass and paraffin products for cooking and heating.

Objective
The programme aims to reducing CO2-emissions through the commercialisation of energy efficient and renewable energy products to households, improve the health and safety in low income households and small businesses, and establish a carbon facility to unlock the potential income from avoided emissions of its products.

Approach
The Basic Energy and Climate Change Adaptation Programme (BECCAP) is a South African-based initiative that is implemented by GTZ. BECCAP was launched in 2008 and is a focused extension of the Programme for Basic Energy Conservation (ProBEC) into South Africa. It supports and advises on the activities of various South African partner organisations such as the University of Johannesburg, the Central Energy Fund, and the Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa.
BECCAP, together with the Central Energy Fund and the Paraffin Safety Association are currently partnering on two initiatives to provide information and training on appropriate energy usage and safety measures to 240 000 households and 5000 small- and medium-sized enterprises.
The University of Johannesburg and BECCAP, in association with ProBEC, have signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the joint establishment of the Sustainable Energy Technology Testing and Research Centre. The purpose is to improve the quality and design of energy efficient devices so as to contribute to the commercialisation of radically more efficient basic energy (initially mainly cooking) technologies that are affordable and more appropriate to meet the domestic and community energy needs of the low income majorities in South Africa. Following a commercial market development approach by way of a pilot project, BECCAP has identified and tested a wood-burning stove aimed at rural markets. The stove offers the user an energy saving of up to 50 percent when compared to their current energy usage practise. The purpose of the pilot project is to develop the market for these stoves, including testing the stoves for safety and energy-efficiency (emissions) as well as the market, finding entrepreneurs, helping to conceive and build different distribution models, realise carbon credits, and possibly financial buy-in from government-linked entities. 2000 of these award-winning stoves have been market tested in South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The aim is to reach at least 150 000 households who are dependent on wood. The marketing initiative also increased awareness of the product, thereby prompting small businesses to become involved and thereby developing a value-chain in the market.

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ))