Over 215 000 solar system (SWH) systems were nationally so far as part of the South African national SWH strategy and implementation plan of the year 2009 installed.

 

The strategy is designed to reduce power consumption, offset of rising prices for low-income households, accelerate the production of hot water provision and reach renewable energy goals.

 

This program includes State energy provider Eskom facilitate the installation of one million SWHS in low-cost residential areas throughout the country by the year 2014.

 

Subsidy, representing approximately 90% of the costs funded the SWH units with an Eskom, and about half of the systems in combination with carbon credits from the clean installed the balance development mechanism (CDM), the funds.

 

"A further 800 000 SWHS even at the national level until the end of 2014 to be installed, but we see already positive results", Eskom says integrated demand management Senior Manager Andrew Etzinger.

 

eThekwini Energy Office Senior Manager Derek Morgan adds that more than 9 000 were SWHS of the eThekwini municipality in the first phase between January and July installed last year, so that households with low incomes, to water heat for free.

 

In addition, he explains that led the program not only in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the city, but had the added benefit of creating jobs.

 

He says "the strict ten-year monitoring program to ensure that the units is held for the period of the CDM cycle has created the maintenance job opportunities, and each private service providers is contractually obligated to provide practical training for the members of each community,".

 

It also claimed Morgan, that a number of small and medium-sized enterprises have in response to the activity in each project area developed.

 

A second roll out phase in KwaZulu-Natal began project for the seventeenth framework of the United Nations Convention on climate change (UNFCCC) in November as a legacy of Conference of the parties, which took place in Durban in December.

This project sees the installation of another 10 000 systems until end of this month.

 

Morgan adds, that was not without challenges.

 

"The city has more than 160 000 households with low incomes, creating a huge demand for SWHS, and we will fight for a unit get to meet the expectation that every one will be," he stressed.

 

However, the grant award is largely the responsibility of Eskom.

 

Further, take plants in bulk condominiums instead of apartments, low cost.

 

"These developments are based on the number of units, existing power and water supply, roof construction and access will be elected," Morgan explained.

 

The passive SWH system was chosen for the program because it does not require circulate a pump to water from the reservoirs to the storage unit, in contrast to an active SWH.

 

The passive system uses gravity trend for hot water to cold water rise up and circulate the water pressure for water from the reservoirs to the storage unit, making the need for an electric pump.

 

The private service provider for the program selected, chosen with the proviso that each unit at no direct cost to the municipality or the recipient should be delivered.

 

"Companies can submit applications to the UNFCCC, the carbon credits for this project exists on the CDM, negates their money essentially", says Morgan.

 

Now, he believes that the successful implementation of SWH program can in eThekwini as starting point for the execution of other communities.