Electricity Consumption in Brazil and South Africa: Distribution and Prices

2020 ◽  
pp. 132-174
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Electricity Consumption

scholarly journals Reported Behavioural Patterns of Electricity Use among Low-Income Households in Makhanda, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7271
Author(s):  
Uzziah Mutumbi ◽  
Gladman Thondhlana ◽  
Sheunesu Ruwanza
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Electricity Use ◽  
Behavioural Patterns ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
Basic Services ◽  
Low Income Households

Households consume up to 20% of overall electricity consumption globally; hence, they are important role players in efforts towards promoting sustainable consumption. Research on electricity use behaviour is important for informing intervention strategies; however, relative to developed countries, research on this subject is lacking in developing countries where electricity access is limited. In South Africa, electricity use behaviour among poor neighbourhoods remains little studied and understood. This study was carried out among low-income households in Makhanda, South Africa, characterised by high poverty and unemployment rates, low education levels, and limited access to basic services. Using a self-reporting approach, electricity use behaviour of low-income households was assessed against a list of common household electricity use actions. A survey of 297 households was conducted. The findings show mixed results, with households reporting both good electricity use behaviour (e.g., cooling down hot food before refrigeration and using washing machines on full load) and wasteful actions (e.g., leaving appliances on standby). Our results show that electricity use behaviour was influenced by socio-psychological values including universalism, benevolence, hedonism, and power. Some of the reported electricity behavioural patterns are consistent with those previously reported among high-income households. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.

Behavioural interventions yield electricity savings among high-income households in Johannesburg, South Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 0958305X2110443
Author(s):  
Stephanie P Williams ◽  
Gladman Thondhlana ◽  
Harn Wei Kua
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
High Income ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Behavioural Interventions ◽  
Electricity Use ◽  
Size Number ◽  
Electricity Saving ◽  
The Impact

The societal benefits of addressing wasteful electricity use practices through behavioural interventions are now well-established. Surprisingly, in South Africa, where the economy is highly dependent on fossil fuel (coal) for electricity generation, this subject remains little studied and understood. The residential sector is a major electricity consumer, and high-income households, in particular, use a substantial proportion of total electricity with serious adverse impacts on grid stability and the environment, which can disproportionately affect the poor. Using a field-based experiment, this study examines the impact of behavioural interventions on household electricity savings and the determinants of success among high-income households in Johannesburg, South Africa. Over the intervention period, households exposed to a combination of electricity-saving information, frequent reminders and feedback on monthly electricity-saving performance showed mean electricity savings of about 1.5%, ranging from 2% to 4% of electricity, while households in the control group showed increased electricity consumption by approximately 11%. Out of all the demographic and personal value factors considered, age, achievement and benevolence promoted electricity savings, while household size, number of rooms, baseline electricity consumption and security inhibited savings. The findings empirically validate the impact of behavioural interventions on, and the positive influence of, personal values in promoting participation in electricity-saving actions within households.

scholarly journals Offshore wind energy – South Africa’s untapped resource

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 26-42
Author(s):  
Gordon Rae ◽  
Gareth Erfort
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Wind Energy ◽  
South African ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Energy Resource ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Offshore Wind Energy ◽  
Multi Criteria Evaluation

In the context of the Anthropocene, the decoupling of carbon emissions from electricity generation is critical. South Africa has an ageing coal power fleet, which will gradually be decommissioned over the next 30 years. This creates substantial opportunity for a just transition towards a future energy mix with a high renewable energy penetration. Offshore wind technology is a clean electricity generation alternative that presents great power security and decarbonisation opportunity for South Africa. This study estimated the offshore wind energy resource available within South Africa’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), using a geographic information system methodology. The available resource was estimated under four developmental scenarios. This study revealed that South Africa has an annual offshore wind energy production potential of 44.52 TWh at ocean depths of less than 50 m (Scenario 1) and 2 387.08 TWh at depths less than 1 000 m (Scenario 2). Furthermore, a GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation was conducted to determine the most suitable locations for offshore wind farm development within the South African EEZ. The following suitable offshore wind development regions were identified: Richards Bay, KwaDukuza, Durban, and Struis Bay. Based on South Africa’s annual electricity consumption of 297.8 TWh in 2018, OWE could theoretically supply approximately 15% and 800% of South Africa’s annual electricity demand with offshore wind development Scenario 1 and 2 respectively.

Using energy profiles to identify university energy reduction opportunities

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 188-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nandarani Maistry ◽  
Harold Annegarn
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Calendar ◽  
The University

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to outline efforts at the University of Johannesburg, a large metropolitan university in Gauteng province, to examine energy efficiency within the context of the green campus movement, through the analysis of electricity consumption patterns. The study is particularly relevant in light of the cumulative 230 per cent increase in electricity costs between 2008 and 2014 in South Africa that has forced institutions of higher education to seek ways to reduce energy consumption. Design/Methodology/Approach – A quantitative research design was adopted for the analysis of municipal electricity consumption records using a case study approach to identify trends and patterns in consumption. The largest campus of the University of Johannesburg, which is currently one of the largest residential universities in South Africa, was selected as a case study. Average diurnal consumption profiles were plotted according to phases of the academic calendar, distinguished by specific periods of active teaching and research (in-session); study breaks, examinations and administration (out-of-session); and recesses. Average profiles per phase of the academic calendar were constructed from the hourly electricity consumption and power records using ExcelTM pivot tables and charts. Findings – It was found that the academic calendar has profound effects on energy consumption by controlling the level of activity. Diurnal maximum consumption corresponds to core working hours, peaking at an average of 2,500 kWh during “in-session” periods, 2,250 kWh during “out-of-session” periods and 2,100 kWh during recess. A high base load was evident throughout the year (between 1,300 and 1,650 kWh), mainly attributed to heating and cooling. By switching off the 350 kW chiller plant on weekdays, a 9 per cent electricity reduction could be achieved during out-of-session and recess periods. Similarly, during in-session periods, a 6 per cent reduction could be achieved. Practical implications – Key strategies and recommendations are presented to stimulate energy efficiency implementation within the institution. Originality Value – Coding of consumption profiles against the academic calendar has not been previously done in relation to an academic institution. The profiles were used to establish the influence of the academic calendar on electricity consumption, which along with our own observation were used to identify specific consumption reduction opportunities worth pursuing.

scholarly journals Re-Visting the Electricity-Growth Nexus in South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Phiri ◽  
Bothwell Nyoni
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Domestic Investment ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Trivariate Analysis

AbstractThis research study contributes to the ever-expanding literature by examining multivariate cointegration and causality relationships between electricity consumption, economic growth and other growth determinants for quarterly South African data collected between 1994/Q1 – 2014/Q4. The motivation behind this current research case study becomes apparent when taking into consideration that no previous studies have gone further than bivariate and trivariate analysis in investigating the electricity-growth nexus in South Africa. In conducting our empirical investigation, our obtained empirical results are two-fold in nature. Firstly, we find significant multivariate long-run cointegration relationships between economic growth, electricity consumption and other growth determinants. Secondly, our empirical analysis offers support in favour of the neutrality hypothesis, that is, the notion of no causal effects existing between electricity consumption and economic growth in the long-run. However, we find that exports directly cause electricity consumption whereas economic growth, domestic investment and employment levels causally flow to exports.

Evaluating the impact of consumer behaviour on the performance of domestic solar water heating systems in South Africa

2010 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Ijumba ◽  
Adoniya Ben Sebitosi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Base Stations ◽  
Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water Heating ◽  
Solar Water ◽  
The Impact

South Africa experienced a rapid expansion in the electric power consumer base after 1994 that was not matched by corresponding investment in the country’s generation capacity. By the dawn of 2008, the situation had reached a critical point, with regular countrywide blackouts and load shedding and is expected to persist for several years, before the proposed new base stations can come online. Currently, 92% of the country’s electricity is generated in coal-based power stations and are responsible for the country’s heavy carbon footprint. Additionally this power must crisscross the country to distant load centres via an aging transmission infrastructure and in the process massive amounts of energy are lost particularly during peak power demand. Electricity consumption in South African households accounts for approximately 35% of peak demand, with water heating constituting 40% of that. The country has abundant sunshine and solar water heating technology and offers one of the most viable compiementary solutions to the country’s energy and environmental crises. Moreover the location of the systems at the consumer end means that the need to upgrade the transmission infrastructure can also be differed.Application of technology alone however, may not necessarily result in the required energy savings particularly in cases of uninformed consumer usage. In this paper the authors evaluate the impact of consumer behaviour on the performance of domestic solar water heaters in South Africa and suggest measures that could be taken to optimize this performance.

The impact of electricity crises on the consumption behaviour of small and medium enterprises

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Von Ketelholdt ◽  
A. Wöcke
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Social Strategies ◽  
Information Campaigns ◽  
Consumption Behaviour ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Impact

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will play a key role in future economic and social strategies in South Africa. However, we find that SMEs are par-ticularly vulnerable to shocks in their external envi-ronment due to a general lack of skills and resources. This is critical as the future demand for electricity in South Africa is likely to outstrip supply and electricity will become increasingly unreliable and expensive. We surveyed 250 SMEs in Cape Town and found that the prevailing policy methods of changing electricity consumption behaviour: information campaigns, increasing prices, and pro-viding rebates for energy savings, have had limited results and are unsustainable when applied to SMEs.

scholarly journals Determinants of household electricity consumption in South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 120-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuxiang Ye ◽  
Steven F. Koch ◽  
Jiangfeng Zhang
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Electricity Consumption
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