The goal of reducing electricity consumption by 153 megawatts (MW) yearly in a bid to conserve dwindling resources was exceeded by about 30% last year, Eskom said on Thursday.
This was up from 2003’s figure of 101MW, and represented a saving of about R1,2-billion — equating to the consumption during peak periods of a town such as Roodepoort, Rustenburg or Richards Bay.
The residential sector contributed most to the saving, with households exceeding their 79MW target by nearly half, energy services manager Tsholo Matlala said in Pretoria.
The industrial and mining sector missed its 57MW target by about 3MW, largely due to the large investment required in energy-saving technology.
Eskom MD Johnny Dladla said there is a definite change in electricity consumption among households. More and more people are using low-energy light bulbs and geyser blankets.
”We are seeing stocks moving,” he told a function in Pretoria to showcase energy-savings efforts undertaken at the 1 Military hospital, yielding annual savings of about R400 000.
The hospital is one of 35 government buildings undergoing or due to undergo conversions to make them more energy efficient — eventually hoped to result in savings of more than R6-million a year.
Projects have already been approved for 24 state facilities with the potential to save 1 400 kilowatts at more than R2,3-million per year — including the Union Buildings, the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court building, the new Palace of Justice, the Pretoria West Dog School, the South African Revenue Service and several ministerial office buildings.
Savings measures include energy-efficient lighting and the upgrading of heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
Less pressure on finances, environment
Minister of Public Works Stella Sigcau said the initiative is part of the government’s aim to reduce pressure on limited financial resources.
”It is also a statement of intent to alleviate the strain brought to bear on our finite natural resources by our modern production and consumption habits.”
Eskom estimates that peak period demand will exceed its supply ability by 2007. Electricity demand has been rising by about 15% per year.
Sigcau said the generation of electricity in South Africa is largely driven by the mining of fossil fuels such as coal, using vast amounts of water in the process.
”Despite its degrading effect on the environment, continuous mining of fossil fuels will sooner [rather] than later deplete these resources, leading to imbalances between supply and demand, which will precipitate unprecedented price wars,” she said.
The time to seek alternative and environmentally friendly sources of power and energy is now.
”Our millennium [development] goals will not be realised unless the government, business and civil society act in unison to manage our resources better for sustainability, prosperity and development,” the minister said.
”Squandering of limited resources through unbridled exploitation and hoarding leads to long-term poverty, which breeds disdain and indifference to any efforts to preserve and manage them.”
Eskom is trying to encourage consumers to shift their use to off-peak periods, and to install energy-efficient equipment.
A small household can save about R30 a month and a big one about R350 through energy-savings measures. A large business can save R1-million or more a year, Eskom said in a statement.
In 2005, consumption reduction efforts will focus on industry and commerce, which use about 51% of South Africa’s energy.
South Africa intends to reduce overall energy demand by 12% by 2014. — Sapa