By Howard Feldman
I am often accused of being “too positive” and of seeing the glass half full when it comes to South Africa. And whereas I have no idea what “too positive” means, I do accept that even I need at least some light to see if there is any water at all in the metaphorical glass.
A friend had a great idea. Once a month, at night, during loadshedding he is going to use his drone to take aerial photographs of the lights in the neighborhood. After a period of a few months, he anticipates being able to gauge the number of houses who have moved to solar or other back up power.
I suspect that he might be a little late for full impact. And I say this after having driven home from a function at our neighborhood school the other evening. Unknown to me, it was during loadshedding, but as the function had power as did most the houses on the way home, I didn’t realize it until I noticed the lights in the driveway of our complex were not illuminated. In a relatively short period, it seems that many (not yet most) have solved the problem for themselves.
Technology seems to have come to the rescue in the Knick of time.
It is unsurprising that South Africa imported a record R12 billion worth of lithium batteries in 2022, and the data suggests the number may be even higher in 2023. Lithium batteries are a critical component to back up power (unless a generator is employed). This, according the Daily Investor who also indicate that this is unusual as these batteries have been most in demand globally for use in electric vehicles.
It is difficult to get a sense of the real number of solar installations taking place each month in South Africa. Anecdotally the number is significant, especially if one considers the number of containers of panels being imported each month.
The challenge is that whereas singular homes and offices are solving their own problems with this, the fact that in areas such as Johannesburg it is not possible to push power back to the grid, means that the impact on the grid is not yet significant. It is estimated that homes with solar only consume around 20 to 30% of their production, meaning a significant amount of power quite literally goes up in smoke. It also means that those who cannot afford alternative energy have little, of any relief.
With excess power being produced, and with the country on its knees due to Eskom and ANC failure (it is important to remember that this is a partnership), it borders the absurd that this has not yet been solved.
It is critical that given the amount of power being produced on the rooves of our homes and centres, that urgent attention is given to the ability to push excess power back to the grid. Why this has not been done is anyone’s guess.
The half full part of the whole electricity debacle is that South Africa is set to be a leaders in sustainable power. The drone that my friend keeps threatening to send skyward would no doubt be a brilliant illustration of the country’s adoption of renewable energy. Even if by pure necessity.
Yet it is not all about the electricity itself. The solar installation sector, finance sector, electrical wholesales, manufacturers and all involved have need to employ and train people in this field, resulting in an economic boost to anyone connected to the industry. And whereas it might not offset the loss because of interrupted Eskom supply, it certainly does mitigate some of the impact, while setting the country up for success in the future.
The ANC’s policy and ESKOM dependency has inflicted untold hardship and loss on South Africans. That is without dispute. But once again, South Africans have found a way to not only survive it’s government, but quite literally become a shining light to others around the world. And I will drink my half full glass to that.