Assessing opportunities and constraints related to different models for supplying wind turbines to the South African wind energy industry

2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
János Moldvay ◽  
Ralph Hamann ◽  
John Fay
Keyword(s):  
Wind Energy ◽  
South African ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Energy Industry ◽  
The South

Variation in bat and bird fatalities at wind energy facilities: assessing the effects of rotor size and tower height

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M.R. Barclay ◽  
E.F. Baerwald ◽  
J.C. Gruver
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Wind Energy ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
North American ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
Energy Industry ◽  
Migrating Birds ◽  
Tower Height

Wind energy is a rapidly growing sector of the alternative energy industry in North America, and larger, more productive turbines are being installed. However, there are concerns regarding bird and bat fatalities at wind turbines. To assess the influence of turbine size on bird and bat fatalities, we analyzed data from North American wind energy facilities. Diameter of the turbine rotor did not influence the rate of bird or bat fatality. The height of the turbine tower had no effect on bird fatalities per turbine, but bat fatalities increased exponentially with tower height. This suggests that migrating bats fly at lower altitudes than nocturnally migrating birds and that newer, larger turbines are reaching that airspace. Minimizing tower height may help minimize bat fatalities. In addition, while replacing older, smaller turbines with fewer larger ones may reduce bird fatalities per megawatt, it may result in increased numbers of bat fatalities.

scholarly journals Is vertical separation a prerequisite to enhancing competition in the South African energy industry?

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 527-546
Author(s):  
Thembalethu Sithebe ◽  
Tshekishi Kolobe
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Natural Monopoly ◽  
Energy Industry ◽  
Vertical Separation ◽  
The South ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Positive Results

Vertical separation is believed to have positive effects in energy sectors where certain phases of the value chain operate under a natural monopoly. This paper discusses whether unbundling is necessary in the South African electricity and piped gas sectors to encourage entry and increase competition based on the experiences of other nations. Despite positive results in some instances, unbundling does not always result in higher levels of competition and benefits for consumers. In fact, in some cases, vertical separation has resulted in energy sectors that are worse off.

The lessons learned from the development of the wind energy industry that might be applied to marine industry renewables

2012 ◽  
Vol 370 (1959) ◽  
pp. 451-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Garrad
Keyword(s):  
Wind Energy ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Energy Industry ◽  
Engineering Development ◽  
Early Experiences ◽  
Marine Industry

This paper considers the early experiences of the development of wind turbines and the wind energy industry in order to try and identify lessons learned that could now be applied to the developing marine renewables technology and industry. It considers both political and commercial incentives and engineering development.

scholarly journals The spatial distribution of renewable energy infrastructure in three particular provinces of South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (30) ◽  
pp. 71-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Lombard ◽  
Sanette L.A. Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Wind Energy ◽  
South African ◽  
Path Dependence ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
The South ◽  
Rural Economies

Abstract Renewed interest is being shown in South Africa in the promotion of infrastructure for renewable energy (RE) to supplement the country’s current energy- generation capacity and to break loose from its dependency on an unsustainable fossil-fuel-based energy-provision system. The latter system not only has unfavourable consequences for the environment, but is managed by a state-owned institution which since 2008 has been incapable of providing reliable electricity. RE infrastructure - especially for the generation of solar and wind energy - is a relatively new feature in the South African landscape. This paper examines the spatial distribution of the newly commissioned infrastructures for wind and solar energy (operational and under construction) and the role they can play in the diversification of the rural economies of parts of the country’s Northern Cape, Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces. First, literature on evolutionary economic geography, path dependence and new path creation is reviewed. Second, the role of a single energy provider - embedded in a monopolistic energy policy -in inhibiting the transition from a mainly fossil-fuel-based energy-provision system to a multi-source (multi-owner) provision system is discussed. Third, the reasoning behind the siting of the infrastructures for solar and wind energy in three particular provinces is explained. Fourth, the possible roles these new infrastructures can play in the diversification of the rural economies where they occur are advanced. The paper concludes that solar- and wind-energy projects have the ability to transform the South African energy context and that these projects present some positive socio-economic impacts for rural economies in the three particular provinces. The paper also recommends that future research efforts should be aimed at the evolution of this socio-economic transformation by taking into account the pre-development context of the areas under study.

Exploring recidivism in the South African context.

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Belinda Bedell ◽  
Nicholas Challis ◽  
Charl Cilliers ◽  
Joy Cole ◽  
Wendy Corry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
South African Context ◽  
The South ◽  
African Context
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