Water Wheel July/Aug 2021: Hydropower

Abstract

HYDROPOWER Turning the tide on cleaner energy, one community at a time A micro-hydropower plant situated northeast of Mthatha in the Eastern Cape illustrates the potential of renewable energy to help turn the tide for local communities. This is the view of Marco van Dijk, a lecturer at the University of Pretoria’s Department of Civil Engineering. Van Dijk and his team have been exploring this topic over the last few years. Adds Jay Bhagwan, Executive Manager at the Water Research Commission (WRC): “Imagine thousands of such systems serving remote villages, and its potential to create local jobs, industry and enterprises. This could be the green economy which can go far in uplifting local economies and stimulating a renewable industry.” This visionary initiative by the WRC, which is funded by the Department of Science and Innovation, is aimed at changing the rural economy through innovative solutions. The Kwa-Madiba plant that they designed and constructed during this project provides a “useful roadmap” for implementing similar projects elsewhere in the country, Van Dijk says.

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