AN INVESTIGATION OF THE SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTION IN SOUTH AFRICA

BY

SILAS K. MULAUDZI

A DOCTORAL DEGREE INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMIC RESEARCH ON INNOVATION (IERI),

TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (TUT), PRETORIA

NOVEMBER 2011

Background

• Energy is the nucleus of any development in the world

• Every development owes its being to energy

• If the world’s economy expands to meet the aspirations of countries around the globe, energy demand is likely to increase

• Because of that energy is considered as the life-blood of every development in the world

Background cont…

• Globally, the renewable energy industry is projected to grow rapidly in the next few years.

• The International Energy Agency estimates that 15-20% of total energy supply contribution will be from renewable energy by 2026

• Nearly 11 GW of solar PV was produced globally• According to REN21 (2010) first Solar (which is in USA) became the

first firm ever to produce over 1 GW in a single year• Solar energy is categorized into concentrated solar power, solar

photovoltaic and solar water heating. • South Africa is regarded as having good solar potential in areas

around Limpopo, Northern Cape, North West and Mpumalanga Provinces

Background cont…

Background cont…

• This study seeks to establish the relationship between the local,

regional, continental and global manufacturers and consumers of

the solar energy technologies, namely: solar photovoltaic and

concentrated solar power.

• The study excludes liquid fuels, other renewable energy

technologies and non-electric renewable such as biofuel and Solar

Water Heating (SWH).

Background cont…

CSP development in 2008

Technology In service

capacity

(MW)

Planned

capacity (MW)

Total Leading locations (Including planned installation)

Trough 395 4 967 5362 US, Spain, China, Israel, Australia, Morocco,

Greece, UAE, Algeria, India, Mexico, Iran

CLFR 1 1 489 1490 US, Libya

Tower 33 579 612 Spain, US, South Africa, Egypt

Dish 1 1 750 1751 US

Total 430 8 785 9215  

Statement of the problem

•Highly dependence on import (solar energy technologies and skills)

•Unknown quantity of local and foreign firms that manufacture solar energy technologies

•Demand for electricity has been increasing in line with economic growth over the past decade in South Africa

•Energy security

•Trace gas emissions/GHG emissions

Research objectivesGeneral objective• To establish the import and export relationship between the

domestic and international firms that manufacture and develop solar energy technologies and the growth impediments in the solar energy industry in South Africa

Specific objectives• To find out which solar energy technology are imported and

exported and factors that influence export and import in South Africa;

• To find out which regional and international countries import and export solar energy technology to and from South Africa;

• To establish the market forces for manufacturing and using solar energy technology in South Africa; and

• To determine the impediments hampering the growth of solar energy manufacturing industry in South Africa.

Research questionsThe research intends to answer the following questions, amongst others:

• Which solar energy technologies are imported and exported from and to South

Africa?

• Who is the user of these solar energy technologies in South Africa and why?

• What is the emerging type of manufacturers-users interactions in the solar

energy sector?

• What are the factors hampering growth and development in the solar energy

manufacturing industry in South Africa?

• Which regional, continental and international countries are these solar energy

technologies imported from and exported to?

• What is the market force for export and import for these solar energy

technologies?

Methodology

• Types of data and data collection (see the Annexure provided)

o Primary o Secondary

• Samplingo Stratified random sampling

Preliminary findings

• Preliminary data collected from the academic, manufacturing, research institutions, association, consumers, generators and government have shown that the there is a strong link, bond, cooperation and support amongst the manufacturing companies locally, regionally and globally.

• The Government of South Africa has signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) with many Asian and European countries on solar energy development.

• These findings will be discussed further with the respondents.

Preliminary findings cont…

• The major factor hampering the development of solar energy seems to be institutional arrangement, regulatory framework, skills, policy uncertainty and gaps as well as economic climate.

• Both institutions interviewed are of the opinion that the current contribution of solar energy at this point in time is negligible.

Outcomes

• Publications in peer reviewed journals• Publications in books and conferences• Presentations• Posters

Research planActivity Output Timelines

Data collection and analysis Data collected and analysed December 2011 - January

2012

Chapter 1: Introduction 1st draft introduction December 2011 – January

2012

Chapter 2: Literature review 1st draft literature review

chapter

Ongoing

Chapter 3: General

methodology

1st draft research methodology February-April 2012

Chapter 4: Objective 1 1st draft of Chapter 4 April – July 2012

Chapter 5: Objective 2 1st draft of Chapter 5 April – July 2012

Research plan cont…Activity Output Timelines

Chapter 6: Objective 3 1st draft of Chapter 6 April – July 2012

Chapter 7: Objective 4 1st draft of Chapter 7 April – July 2012

Chapter 9: Synthesis chapter Synthesis chapter submitted July - September 2012

Chapter 10: Conclusion and

recommendations

Conclusion and recommendation

submitted

July - September 2012

Publication of the papers on

selected objectives

Selected objectives published as a

paper (1st publication done)

April - July 2012

1st draft thesis 1st draft thesis developed October 2012

Research plan cont…Activity Output Timelines

2nd draft thesis 2nd draft thesis developed November – December 2012

Publication of the papers on

selected objectives

Paper published October – November 2012

Submission of the 3rd draft thesis

to the supervisor

3rd draft thesis submitted to the

supervisor

January - February 2013

Submission of the final draft thesis

to the supervisor

Final draft thesis submitted to the

supervisor

March - April 2013

Submission of the final draft thesis

to the external supervisor

Final draft thesis submitted to the

external supervisor

May 2013

Submission of the final thesis to

the Faculty, internal and external

examiner

Final thesis submitted to the

Faculty, internal and external

examiner

July 2013

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

MR SILAS K. MULAUDZI(012) 358 1865

Silasmu@Tshwane.gov.za