Johannesburg - The
electricity system in South Africa needs to be transformed, Energy
Minister Dipuo Peters said on Thursday.
"We
need to start with government," Peters said at the SA National
Energy Development Institute (Sanedi) in Johannesburg.
"Money
has been set aside in the budget for energy efficiency."
Peters
said it was heartbreaking when a few years ago the department of
public works had failed to spend the money allocated.
"Sanedi
now supports government," she said.
Peters
said Sanedi was expected to help the government. She said power pools
in South Africa needed to be strengthened, and for this to happen
investment was needed.
Sanedi
had established a strategic plan, part of which was establishing
"smarter" power grids.
"The
smarter the grid the better the service... we can deliver."
A
smart grid uses technology to gather information about the behavior
of suppliers and consumers, to improve the efficiency and reliability
of electricity production and distribution.
Alternative
power sources were being looked at to power government institutions
such as hospitals.
Peters
said Sanedi was also negotiating with the department of transport to
ensure that the sector was transformed.
For
example it would be cheaper for taxis to run on gas rather than
petrol, and this would create lower emissions.
"We
promoting the use of cleaner fuels," she said.
"This
is in line with our commitment to a green economy. Transport is
virtually an untapped sandbox (sic)."
Peters
said Sanedi was also working with the department of trade and
industry to make sure that anything that was built was energy
efficient. This would be achieved through the building codes.
"Even
the type of paint you use can contribute to energy efficiency,"
she said.
There
was also appliance labeling on electrical equipment.
"Can
you identify what's energy efficient? We need to make communities
aware.
"We
need to start becoming energy consumer conscious."
Peters
said South Africans needed to be educated about alternative energy
sources.
She
urged South Africans to install solar water heaters in their homes,
as she had done.
"You
will save at least 50% (on your electricity bill)... Install
that solar water heater.
"I
know people like things for mahala (free); this is half mahala."
Peters said if one million solar water heaters were installed in
South Africa by 2014, the country would save 3000 megawatts.
"Save
us from building another coal power plant... make a personal
contribution as a family and as an individual."
She
said Africa needed to move away from being the darkest continent at
night.
"There
are little sparkles in Africa. There are a few in South Africa,
Nigeria, and Egypt, but the rest (of Africa) is dark," Peters
said.
"Sanedi
as an entity is responsible for energy research... We should be well
positioned to help identify future energy needs. This has been
declared the year of energy by the United Nations."
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