Developing a hydropower atlas for South Africa

Abstract

Over the last two decades, the South African energy situation has seen a significant change on account of a growing population, urbanisation, and economic growth. With an increasing population and the governmental drive to connect all South African households to electricity (76.7% of households connected in 2002; 90% in 2020), electricity demand is likely to see an upward trend. Currently, the main source of energy for electricity generation is coal, which has manifested in increased harmful gaseous emissions including carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide. The rapid increase in the demand for electricity and interrupted power generation capacity in the country have also emphasized the importance of energy conservation and more efficient energy production. The country has thus looked to renewable energy sources through its Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPPF) to reduce its high dependency on coal, and to provide a stable electricity supply. One such renewable energy option is hydropower, an energy source that could potentially lessen South Africa’s overdependence on fossil fuel and the threat of power outages, yet currently makes up an insignificant contribution to the energy mix. South African information products in the form of web-based applications are available for renewable energy sources such as wind, hydropower, solar, and bio-fuel energy. However, no web-based application is available for hydropower, meaning insufficient information concerning existing and potential hydropower schemes (conventional and unconventional) is currently available for the country. Nevertheless, key to many of the hindrances to renewable energy products is access to information and making such information available contributes to discussions regarding the future of the South African energy system. Accordingly, this dissertation undertook the development of an interactive web-based South African Hydropower Atlas (SAHA), which entailed 1) assessing existing atlases for common and preferred functionality, 2) identifying a suitable platform for hosting SAHA, 3) creating a centralised database for existing hydropower-related geospatial and attribute data for South Africa, and 4) modelling South African dam hydropower potential using current flow data records. Once a prototype of SAHA was developed, surveys assessing the usability and functionality of SAHA were sent to the relevant stakeholders. Feedback received was subsequently used to improve SAHA. The findings suggest that modelled dam hydropower potential within South African dams is estimated at 162.37 MW; the Free State province holds the greatest potential (112.43 MW) while the Gauteng holds the least (0.15 MW). In addition, provinces with the least access to electricity are also identified to hold potential for small-scale hydropower developments. Furthermore, the development of SAHA as a decision-making tool contributes to the realisation of SDG Goal 7, which aims at ensuring universal access to clean, affordable, reliable, and modern energy services by 2030. The gradual shift away from fossil fuel-based energy sources by incorporating and supplementing conventional electricity generation with renewable energy such as hydropower and the development of small-scale hydropower for rural and remote electrification in South Africa is thus proposed, partially achievable through a freely available and accessible information portal as that of SAHA.