Transition to clean household energy in low-income urban settlements of South Africa : safety, health and low carbon
- Authors: Kimemia, David Kimani
- Date: 2015-07-02
- Subjects: Clean energy - South Africa , Households - Energy consumption - South Africa , Poor - Energy consumption - South Afria
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:13671 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13865
- Description: D.Phil. (Environmental Management) , Clean, efficient, and low carbon energy services are crucial to the sustainable functioning of a household unit. Therefore, this study explores a vital query on the best pathway to achieve universal modern energy access in low-income South African households, based on information gathered from interviews in urban settlements. The thesis is based on published papers touching on thematic areas of household energy access – from baseline assessments to appraisal of modern energy programmes. A set of factors that are necessary for successful introduction and uptake of clean energy are identified for consideration by policy makers. Results indicate widespread use of paraffin and solid fuels in inefficient combustion technologies among low-income urban households even in the rich Johannesburg metropolis. In the absence of formal employment, some township residents use the basic fuels and conventional combustion technologies for productive purposes. Growth in the thermal-intensive informal businesses could be achieved faster through provision of efficient and reliable alternative energy technologies and better operational environment. This study has highlighted the undue risk borne by energy-poor households in the performance of the day-to-day energy tasks. The results show that household risk is positively correlated with the quality and quantity of energy used, with paraffin being the most risky fuel and the apparent risk being larger in non-electrified households. The affected communities have expressed a desire to adopt cleaner and safer forms of energy for residential and economic uses. It is incumbent upon the government and relevant role players to create enabling systems for acquisition of the preferred modern energy streams. An LPG intervention project in the City of Tshwane has demonstrated the inherent potential for modern energy to transform the socioeconomics and overall wellbeing of a family. The impact of such energy interventions could be improved through better-designed energy delivery models that cater for residential and productive needs, leading to sustainable communities. Education and income have been shown to be good precursors for modern energy uptake. Therefore, efforts towards sustainable energy for all should not only focus on indigent assistance and expansion of electrification, but also be intertwined with policies addressing skills need and better household incomes.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Kimemia, David Kimani
- Date: 2015-07-02
- Subjects: Clean energy - South Africa , Households - Energy consumption - South Africa , Poor - Energy consumption - South Afria
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:13671 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13865
- Description: D.Phil. (Environmental Management) , Clean, efficient, and low carbon energy services are crucial to the sustainable functioning of a household unit. Therefore, this study explores a vital query on the best pathway to achieve universal modern energy access in low-income South African households, based on information gathered from interviews in urban settlements. The thesis is based on published papers touching on thematic areas of household energy access – from baseline assessments to appraisal of modern energy programmes. A set of factors that are necessary for successful introduction and uptake of clean energy are identified for consideration by policy makers. Results indicate widespread use of paraffin and solid fuels in inefficient combustion technologies among low-income urban households even in the rich Johannesburg metropolis. In the absence of formal employment, some township residents use the basic fuels and conventional combustion technologies for productive purposes. Growth in the thermal-intensive informal businesses could be achieved faster through provision of efficient and reliable alternative energy technologies and better operational environment. This study has highlighted the undue risk borne by energy-poor households in the performance of the day-to-day energy tasks. The results show that household risk is positively correlated with the quality and quantity of energy used, with paraffin being the most risky fuel and the apparent risk being larger in non-electrified households. The affected communities have expressed a desire to adopt cleaner and safer forms of energy for residential and economic uses. It is incumbent upon the government and relevant role players to create enabling systems for acquisition of the preferred modern energy streams. An LPG intervention project in the City of Tshwane has demonstrated the inherent potential for modern energy to transform the socioeconomics and overall wellbeing of a family. The impact of such energy interventions could be improved through better-designed energy delivery models that cater for residential and productive needs, leading to sustainable communities. Education and income have been shown to be good precursors for modern energy uptake. Therefore, efforts towards sustainable energy for all should not only focus on indigent assistance and expansion of electrification, but also be intertwined with policies addressing skills need and better household incomes.
- Full Text:
Determining the optimal energy use mix in a low-income household
- Authors: Mulumba, Kaniki Joel
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Households - Energy consumption - South Africa , Poor - Energy consumption - South Africa , Clean energy - South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/293796 , uj:31954
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: Energy is at a pivotal point of sustainable development and crucial to our way of living. However, our usage of energy resources is one of the main issues that impinge on the human health as well as on the environment. Around 60 percent of low-income households on the South African Highveld still rely on solid energy carriers (coal or wood) to meet their energy needs such as cooking, water heating, and space heating, especially in winter months despite their electrification status. Consequently, the domestic burning of solid fuels is a major cause of adverse health effects due to poor air quality in the low-income settlements. The aim of this study is to investigate the optimal (i.e. most economical, lowest emissions and equivalent utility) energy mix for a low-income household following a set of interventions (low emissions coal stove, an electricity subsidy and LPG devices combined with a thermal insulation) rolled out to reduce emissions associated with energy use. The study employed secondary data drawn from the air quality offsets pilot project initiated by Eskom in KwaZamokuhle and other studies on energy use. The energy use profile of KwaZamokuhle was expressed as linear programming models. The models were implemented and solved using LINGO 17.0. software tool. The resolution of the linear programming model revealed that using coal for cooking, space and water heating and electricity for lighting and appliances is the least cost option. As far as the least CO2 and PM10 emissions are concerned, LPG is the most suitable energy carrier for meeting cooking, space and, water heating needs, while electricity remains the primary energy carrier for lighting and appliances. These findings suggest that policies and initiatives that encourage LPG and electricity use to lessen coal consumption and its related emissions compared to control households in the low-income settlements should be implemented. However, the cleaner energy options have a cost penalty for households, which needs to be addressed in order to ensure sustainable energy transitions for low-income households.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mulumba, Kaniki Joel
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Households - Energy consumption - South Africa , Poor - Energy consumption - South Africa , Clean energy - South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/293796 , uj:31954
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: Energy is at a pivotal point of sustainable development and crucial to our way of living. However, our usage of energy resources is one of the main issues that impinge on the human health as well as on the environment. Around 60 percent of low-income households on the South African Highveld still rely on solid energy carriers (coal or wood) to meet their energy needs such as cooking, water heating, and space heating, especially in winter months despite their electrification status. Consequently, the domestic burning of solid fuels is a major cause of adverse health effects due to poor air quality in the low-income settlements. The aim of this study is to investigate the optimal (i.e. most economical, lowest emissions and equivalent utility) energy mix for a low-income household following a set of interventions (low emissions coal stove, an electricity subsidy and LPG devices combined with a thermal insulation) rolled out to reduce emissions associated with energy use. The study employed secondary data drawn from the air quality offsets pilot project initiated by Eskom in KwaZamokuhle and other studies on energy use. The energy use profile of KwaZamokuhle was expressed as linear programming models. The models were implemented and solved using LINGO 17.0. software tool. The resolution of the linear programming model revealed that using coal for cooking, space and water heating and electricity for lighting and appliances is the least cost option. As far as the least CO2 and PM10 emissions are concerned, LPG is the most suitable energy carrier for meeting cooking, space and, water heating needs, while electricity remains the primary energy carrier for lighting and appliances. These findings suggest that policies and initiatives that encourage LPG and electricity use to lessen coal consumption and its related emissions compared to control households in the low-income settlements should be implemented. However, the cleaner energy options have a cost penalty for households, which needs to be addressed in order to ensure sustainable energy transitions for low-income households.
- Full Text:
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