Electricity Intensities of the OECD and South Africa: A Comparison

Improving a country’s electricity efficiency is considered one of the important ways to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and to meet its commitments concerning climate change mitigation. In this paper, we conduct a comparative analysis between South Africa and OECD members’ total and sectoral electricity intensities. This is done to establish a sense of South Africa’s relative performance in this regard, to ascertain the possible scope for improvement and, if such scope exists, to determine in which of the industrial sectors

South Africa’s Electricity Consumption: A Sectoral Decomposition Analysis

South Africa's electricity consumption has increased sharply since the early 1990s. Here we conduct a sectoral decomposition analysis of the electricity consumption for the period 1993 to 2006, to determine the main drivers of this increase. The results show that the increase was due mainly to output- or production-related factors, with structural changes playing a secondary role. While there is some evidence of efficiency improvements, indicated here as a slowdown in the rate of increase in electricity intensity, it was not nearly sufficient to offset the combined production and structural effects that propelled electricity consumption higher.

South Africa's Electricity Consumption: A Sectoral Decomposition Analysis

South Africa's electricity consumption has increased sharply since the early 1990s. Here we conduct a sectoral decomposition analysis of the electricity consumption for the period 1993 to 2006, to determine the main drivers of this increase. The results show that the increase was due mainly to output- or production-related factors, with structural changes playing a secondary role. While there is some evidence of efficiency improvements, indicated here as a slowdown in the rate of increase in electricity intensity, it was not nearly sufficient to onset the combined production and structural effects that propelled electricity consumption higher.

Electricity Intensities of the OECD and South Africa: A Comparison

Improving a country’s electricity efficiency is considered one of the important ways to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and to meet its commitments concerning climate change mitigation. In this paper, we conduct a comparative analysis between South Africa and OECD members’ total and sectoral electricity intensities. This is done to establish a sense of South Africa’s relative performance in this regard, to ascertain the possible scope for improvement and, if such scope exists, to determine in which of the industrial sectors.

Demand Side Management potentials for mitigating energy poverty in South Africa

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd South Africa is severally posited to be Africa's most industrialized nation with an economy heavily reliant on energy. With depleted electricity reserve margin which led to massive load shedding and rationing of electricity in 2008, Eskom has stepped up the construction of additional power plants to cover for growing supply deficits. Emerging trends however favour Demand Side Management (DSM) initiatives as alternatives to building additional supply capacity due to environmental and economic constraints. This research evaluates the electricity per capita for 2007, 2011 and 2016 on provincial basis assuming 100% and 36.8% residential sector consumption of generated electricity to show declining electricity per capita values. A scenario simulation (for 100%, 50% and 30% household participation) of cloth washers and cloth dryers optimal dispatch is then modelled to show the enormous DSM potentials in terms of electricity cost reduction and supply flexibility. A modified genetic algorithm (MGA) is used in the dispatch of participating loads on the Medupi power plant which has been modelled to operate with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology. DSM potentials of 6938.34 MW, 3469.18 MW and 2081.51 MW are computed for 100%, 50% and 30% household participation for cloth washers and cloth dryers

The impact of the student-to-supervisor ratio on research proficiency in postgraduate economics

Abstract: In 2007, the Higher Education Qualification Framework (HEQF) prescribed that all Bachelor degrees and Bachelor Honours degrees at National Qualification Level (NQF) level 8 include a research component worth 30 credits. The purpose of the research component is to prepare students to conduct independent and authentic field-specific research at an Honours-level with emphasis on discipline-specific research methodologies, data analysis and rigorous interpretation of results. Institutions have opted to present this research component in different ways depending on the discipline. In the discipline of Economics, the Honours research component is usually presented as a separate research module over one academic year and involves conducting and reporting research under supervision. The research module includes 10 two-hour research methodology lectures in the first semester so that students are provided with guidance on how to conduct independent research..

The sensitivity of the South African industrial sector’s electricity consumption to electricity price fluctuations

Numerous studies assume that the price elasticity of electricity demand remains constant through the years. This, in turn, means that these studies assume that industrial consumers react in the same way to price fluctuations regardless of the actual price level. This paper proposes that the price elasticity of industrial electricity demand varies over time. The Kalman filter methodology is employed in an effort to provide policy-makers with more information on the behaviour of the industrial sector with regards to electricity price changes, focusing on the period 1970 to 2007. Other factors affecting electricity consumption, such as real output and employment, are also captured. The findings of this paper show that price sensitivity has changed since the 1970s. It has decreased in absolute values from -1 in 1980 to -0.953 in 1990 and then stabilised at approximately -0.95 which indicates that the industrial sector has experienced an inelastic demand. In other words, the behaviour of industrial consumers did not vary significantly during the 2000s. In the long run and as the prices increase, probably reaching the levels of the 1970s or even before, the industrial sector’s behaviour might change and the elasticity might end up at levels higher than one (elastic)

Aggregate electricity demand in South Africa : conditional forecasts to 2030

In 2008, South Africa experienced a severe electricity crisis. Domestic and industrial electricity users had to suffer from black outs all over the country. It is argued that partially the reason was the lack of research on energy, locally. However, Eskom argues that the lack of capacity can only be solved by building new power plants. The objective of this study is to specify the variables that explain the electricity demand in South Africa and to forecast electricity demand by creating a model using the Engle–Granger methodology for co-integration and Error Correction models. By producing reliable results, this study will make a significant contribution that will improve the status quo of energy research in South Africa. The findings indicate that there is a long run relationship between electricity consumption and price as well as economic growth/income. The last few years in South Africa, price elasticity was rarely taken into account because of the low and decreasing prices in the past. The short-run dynamics of the system are affected by population growth, too After the energy crisis, Eskom, the national electricity supplier, is in search for substantial funding in order to build new power plants that will help with the envisaged lack of capacity that the company experienced. By using two scenarios for the future of growth, this study shows that the electricity demand will drop substantially due to the price policies agreed – until now – by Eskom and the National Energy Regulator South Africa (NERSA) that will affect the demand for some years.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/apenergynf201

Energy research and R&D indicators : an LMDI decomposition analysis for the IEA Big 5 in energy research

The literature has always shown that there are two important factors in the improvement of a country's research output: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and R&D Expenditures. Taking the discussion a step further, and in an effort to provide policy recommendations on what is needed to boost research capacity, this paper aims at decomposing the change in energy research papers of five countries (Australia, Canada, Germany, UK and US) into four factors: GDP, R&D intensity (ratio of total R&D to GDP), energy R&D rate of return or productivity (number of energy-related papers per unit of energy R&D expenditure), and energy R&D priority (share of energy R&D to total R&D expenditure). The findings show a general trend in the sign of the four effects on research for all five countries: energy R&D productivity, energy R&D priority, and GDP are mostly found to be positive contributors, while the R&D intensity a negative one. This pattern has exceptions that are more prominent during periods where economic growth is constrained, for example during 2008/09. The results have policy implications not only for these five countries but also for developing countries (low GDP) that aim at contributing more to the energy-related research output globally.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol2020-10-01hj2019Economic

Social rate of return to R & D on various energy technologies : where should we invest more? A study of G7 countries

The importance of investment in Research and Development (R & D) in the energy sector is indisputable especially considering the benefits of new technologies to sustainability, security and environmental protection. However, the nature and potential of various energy technologies that are capable of improving the energy and environmental conditions globally is a challenging task for governments and policy makers that have to make decisions on the allocation of funds in R & D. To do so, the optimal resource allocation to R & D should be determined by estimating the social rate of return for R & D investments. This paper aims to estimate the social rate of return of R & D on various energy applications and technologies such as energy efficiency, fossil fuels, renewable energy sources, and nuclear for the G7 countries. The results show that primarily R & D investment on Energy Efficiency technologies and Nuclear are the ones that yield high social benefits for all G7 countries while exactly the opposite holds for Fossil fuels.The author would like to acknowledge the financial support received from Economic Research Southern Africa (ERSA) for publishing working paper 618.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol2018-02-28hb2017Economic