Small-scale hydropower development for rural electrification in South Africa

Abstract

Although the electrification of urban areas and some informal settlements in South Africa has been achieved during recent years, many rural areas still require intervention to provide a reliable and sustainable electricity supply. However, the national electricity grid, managed by Eskom, has for various reasons been experiencing problems, particularly since 2008. Further development of rural electrification is not a high priority at present, due to the shortage in generating capacity available to Eskom. The existing capacity needs to be managed to serve the current users connected to the national grid. However, the primary electricity infrastructure (i.e. coal-fired power stations, major supply lines and distribution of electricity within urban areas) is becoming rapidly insufficient and cannot sustain supply against the demand for electricity from existing (and future) users connected to the national grid.