Eskom installs free solar heaters

Tuesday, 28 June 2011

Electricity supplier Eskom has installed over 30 000 solar heaters in township homes in Port Elizabeth, supplying households with free and unlimited hot water supply.

It is part of the company’s campaign to improve the popularity of solar power and relieve pressure on the national grid.
The black and silver rooftop geysers are being referred to as “flies” because of their position on the roofs and the way they shine from a distance, reports news24.

Eskom wants to install one million solar water heaters nationwide by 2015, with thousands already installed all over the country.

It has said it will provide 110-litre geysers to township homes at no charge, but wealthier households receive a subsidy for their installation.

Rebate programme

Eskom has spent R340-million on its rebate programme so far.

According to Eskom spokesperson Hillary Joffe: “Eskom and government’s joint objective is to save energy and to encourage the use of renewable energy, as well as to provide relief to low income households.”

Although the solar project has reduced the demand for electricity by very little, it is a start.
In June, the African Development Bank approved a $365m loan to help fund Eskom’s wind and solar projects.

Eskom is planning a 100MW wind project in the Western Cape, and a 100MW solar power project in Upington in the Northern Cape.

But environmentalists say these projects are too little and that Eskom is still relying too much on coal.

Greenpeace activists on Monday dumped five tons of coal at Eskom Megawatt Park offices in Johannesburg in protest at the construction of coal power plant Kusile.

The organisation demands that Eskom shows a proper commitment to clean and renewable sources of power.

It says Eskom still sees coal-based power plants as the main supplier of electricity in future.