There are 3 new case studies for the Southern Africa region. The following is a brief synopsis of the case studies which  involve biogas, solar water heating and off grid guest houses and farms.

Renewable Energy Solutions for Off-Grid Guest Houses and  Farms

Nollie se Kloof is a guest farm in the Ceres district and is not connected to the national electricity grid. The owner has installed the following renewable electricity solutions: A 1000 W micro hydro turbine, 720 W photo voltaic panels and 1000 W wind turbine. A 36 V battery bank consisting of 19 batteries stores the energy. For more information, read the case study document in PDF format.

Lwandle: Ten Years on – Solar Water Heaters in municipal Hostel in Cape Town

A small community of a few hundred poor urban families living in municipal worker’s hostels in Lwandle, Cape Town, South Africa decided they would spend a portion of their once-off housing subsidy in providing warm water through the use of solar water heaters. The community covered some 30% of the price of installation (the rest of the housing subsidy being used to increase privacy and provide water borne sewerage). The remaining 70% was covered through a loan by the municipality which was recouped through an incremental increase in rental. Download the case study document in PDF format here .

PetroSA Biogas to Energy Project

The project is the first independent Power Producer in South Africa to use the Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol and is a 4.2 MW biogas to electricity plant located in Mossel Bay at the state-owned gas-to-liquids refinery PetroSA. For more information, see the case study document in PDF format.