Secret of improved energy security may lie in our dams and pipelines

Abstract

Water and energy There is no doubt that, along with water, energy is the lifeblood of worldwide economic and social development. In South Africa, this blood runs mostly black as 90% of the country’s electricity is generated from coal. Rolling power cuts such as those that hit the entire country at the start of 2008, coupled with skyrocketing electricity prices, have made all citizens aware of the fact that demand for electricity is grossly outstripping supply. In addition to the construction of additional coal-fired power plants, alternative, renewable energy, must be considered. As a result of its semi-arid climate South Africa has a vast network of large dams and water distribution infrastructure. According to the South African National Committee on Large Dams, the total storage capacity of the major reservoirs (totalling 252 large dams) currently amounts to about 33 900 million m3 – equal to about 70% of the mean annual runoff from the land surface of the country.

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