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Energy from water can come from waves, tides, waterfalls and
rivers and will never be finished as long as we have water.
In South Africa, we have a mix of small hydroelectricity stations
and pumped water storage schemes. In a pumped water storage
scheme, water is pumped up to a dam.
Pumping the water uses some electricity but this is done in
off-peak periods. During peak hours, when extra electricity
is needed, the water is released through a turbine that drives
an electric generator. Peak hours are usually between six and
eight in the morning and evening.
South Africa used to import electricity from the Cahora Bassa
hydropower station in Mozambique and will do so again when the
transmission line is repaired. There is also the potential to
import more hydropower from countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe
and Zaire. If this happens, South Africa could become less dependent
on coal-fired power stations. |
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However the generation of hydroelectricity is not without environmental effects. Large areas of land may be flooded when dams are built. This will disrupt wildlife habitats and residential and farming areas. Another problem is that cold water released from deep in a dam may have little dissolved air in it. If large amounts of this water are released into rivers, fish may be killed. But proper management can avoid this.
Global pressures regarding the environmental impact and displacement
of settlements by huge storage dams will likely limit the exploitation
of hydropower on a large scale. Irrespective of the size of
installation, any hydropower development will require authorisation
in terms of the National
Water Act 1998, Act 36 of 1998. |
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The Baseline Study on Hydropower in South Africa, an assessment conducted by the DME in 2002, indicated that specific areas in the country show significant potential for the development of all categories of hydropower in the short and medium term.
The Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are endowed with the best potential for the development of small, i.e. less than 10MW hydropower plants. The advantages and attractiveness of these plants are that they can either be standalone or in a hybrid combination with other renewable energy sources. Advantage can be derived from the association with other uses of water (water supply, irrigation, flood control, etc.), which are critical to the future economic and socio-economic development of South Africa.
The Southern African Power Pool (SAPP)
allows the free trading of electricity between Southern African
Development Community (SADC) member countries, providing South
Africa with access to the vast hydropower potential in the countries
to the north, notably the significant potential in the Congo
River (Inga Falls). |
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