Household energisation in rural South Africa: A systems approach towards energy access

Abstract

In South Africa, household electrification has improved significantly since the dawn of independence, with the current national electrification rate at 87%. However, poor households in rural communities, informal urban settlements and low-income urban Townships still rely heavily on traditional fuels to meet their basic energy needs. The majority of these households are energy poor, as they tend to expend a higher proportion (> 10%) of their disposable income on energy services. The continued use of traditional fuels is associated with health challenges including asphyxiation, upper and lower respiratory complications, and mortality. Notwithstanding the benefits of household electrification in rural areas, there is a great need to consider other cheaper alternative energy sources, as the cost of electricity tends to limit its use. Household “energisation” instead of “electrification” has the potential to provide households with access to clean renewable energy sources at minimal cost. Effective household energisation employs a systems approach towards a more comprehensive energy access strategy of meeting households' energy needs using a suite of locally available renewable energy carriers. Energy options available for rural communities are assessed using a ‘systems thinking’ approach.