This project proposes a new application of existing technologies to provide a solution to South Africa’s energy needs. It brings a unique African solution to our energy crisis and at the same time addresses pressing economic, environmental and social concerns.
The commercial potential of this project is vast. The Landmark Foundation has developed the project concept and is now working towards its pilot and implementation.
This project will pilot a solar power scheme that produces renewable solar energy, solves a housing problem, provides rainwater collection and generates income for poor households. The pilot will form the basis of a commercial venture and partnership.
South Africa plans to build 6 million low cost houses. This project proposes fitting all these houses with a 40 square meter solar panel roofs, solar water heaters and runoff rainwater collections system. This will improve the housing standards, produce renewable energy, and at the same time provide solar heated water and catch rainwater.
The excess energy that the household produces will be sold to the national grid/municipal supplies. This excess power could become a source of income to the households (estimated to about $90 per month). This financial incentive ensures that the homeowners care for the revenue generator – the solar panel roofs; simultaneously water is collected in 5000l litre tanks and water is solar heated, reducing water demand in a water scarce country.
This project pilots an innovative solution to South Africa’s energy dilemmas. On implementation it could produce enough solar roof panel energy over the 6 million low-cost homes the South African government plans to build to provide the national electricity grid with the equivalent power of 6 nuclear power stations! (This is based on desktop calculations.)
The Landmark Foundation will develop this project further over the next few years. |
