Eskom gets ready to roll out solar water-heating programme
Thématique :
RSA
By Olivia Spadavecchia, Engineering News, 22/01/2008
State-owned power utility Eskom's solar-powered water heater incentive programme, which was due to be rolled out soon, would only be launched on a national basis once there was registered suppliers in all main centres, it said on Tuesday.
Eskom was currently working on the programme and, although the timing was dependent on the suppliers providing all the necessary information, it was expected that the programme would be rolled out soon.
Since December, over 80 potential suppliers were asked to express interest in registering, Eskom said, adding that interest had also been seen from new entrants in the market, both locally and internationally.
The utility said that it was carefully managing the awareness around the programme so as to ensure that it was not creating a demand in the solar industry that could not be supplied.
Some R2-billion would be made available through the programme, which was managed by financial services firm Deloitte & Touche, over the next five years.
The incentive assistance was provided directly to the customer through a "discounted price" through a supplier registered with Eskom.
It explained that a customer who used a registered supplier and installer would pay the rebated amount, the supplier, in turn, would then be able claim back the incentive amount from Eskom's facilitating auditors.
The utility's objective was to replace about 900 000 electrical geysers, including new homes being built, with solar systems, thereby creating an energy saving of 578 MW.
The utility said that the energy savings created by using solar power, rather than electricity, would decrease a consumer's electricity bill by between 20% and 40%, and being a renewable source would contribute to greater environmental objectives.
The programme formed part of Eskom's demand-side management programme which aimed to save some 3 000 MW of electricity by 2012 and up to 8 000 MW by 2025.
All solar heaters must undergo South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) testing, the cost of which was said to be "prohibitive" for small businesses in the industry. However, Eskom explained that its aim with the SABS testing was to minimise risk for consumers, adding that testing would ensure a successful and sustainable programme as the equipment had to be safe and of a high quality.
The company said that the solar-power systems must be high pressure, and that it would have to be installed in conjunction with a timer (or load management device) to optimise energy savings and regulate usage.
Further criteria for the programme stipulated that registered suppliers and installers would only be able to claim the discounted amount once the electrical and plumbing certificate of compliance had been issued; suppliers must also be registered with the Sustainable Energy Society of South Africa's solar water-heating division.
State-owned power utility Eskom's solar-powered water heater incentive programme, which was due to be rolled out soon, would only be launched on a national basis once there was registered suppliers in all main centres, it said on Tuesday.
Eskom was currently working on the programme and, although the timing was dependent on the suppliers providing all the necessary information, it was expected that the programme would be rolled out soon.
Since December, over 80 potential suppliers were asked to express interest in registering, Eskom said, adding that interest had also been seen from new entrants in the market, both locally and internationally.
The utility said that it was carefully managing the awareness around the programme so as to ensure that it was not creating a demand in the solar industry that could not be supplied.
Some R2-billion would be made available through the programme, which was managed by financial services firm Deloitte & Touche, over the next five years.
The incentive assistance was provided directly to the customer through a "discounted price" through a supplier registered with Eskom.
It explained that a customer who used a registered supplier and installer would pay the rebated amount, the supplier, in turn, would then be able claim back the incentive amount from Eskom's facilitating auditors.
The utility's objective was to replace about 900 000 electrical geysers, including new homes being built, with solar systems, thereby creating an energy saving of 578 MW.
The utility said that the energy savings created by using solar power, rather than electricity, would decrease a consumer's electricity bill by between 20% and 40%, and being a renewable source would contribute to greater environmental objectives.
The programme formed part of Eskom's demand-side management programme which aimed to save some 3 000 MW of electricity by 2012 and up to 8 000 MW by 2025.
All solar heaters must undergo South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) testing, the cost of which was said to be "prohibitive" for small businesses in the industry. However, Eskom explained that its aim with the SABS testing was to minimise risk for consumers, adding that testing would ensure a successful and sustainable programme as the equipment had to be safe and of a high quality.
The company said that the solar-power systems must be high pressure, and that it would have to be installed in conjunction with a timer (or load management device) to optimise energy savings and regulate usage.
Further criteria for the programme stipulated that registered suppliers and installers would only be able to claim the discounted amount once the electrical and plumbing certificate of compliance had been issued; suppliers must also be registered with the Sustainable Energy Society of South Africa's solar water-heating division.
