Domestic utilisation of electrical grid energy in South Africa

Abstract

The domestic sector is one of the largest users of nett energy in the RSA (24%, excluding energy used for transport), but it accounts for only 14% of the electrical energy used in the RSA. There is a very strong correlation between the time of the peak of the load for the domestic sector and the time of the peak of the national load. The domestic load is the largest contributor to the peak of the national load. This makes the domestic load more important than is generally realised. Only limited research has been done about the ways in which domestic energy is used in South Africa. Developed countries, such as the United States of America, are continuously engaged in end-use load research, so they have vast data banks available on domestic end-uses of electricity. Data on domestic end-use of electricity are urgently needed especially for South Africa with its very fast growing newly urbanised sector. Since most energy sources are not replenishable, ways and means must be found to promote the wise and effective use of all forms of energy. Effective use of energy can only be promoted if the ways in which electricity is used are known. In this dissertation the electrical energy requirements of the South African domestic sector are analyzed for the present situation and for the next few decades. A model is developed to represent the electrical load. The model has subsections representing the components of the national domestic electrical load, concentrating on electrical energy for domestic water heating, with responses to factors such as: * population growth, * urbanisation, * electrification, * energy efficiency of appliances, * consumer awareness of energy conservation. The model is to be used for scenario planning of the electrical grid. The results of this study will assist to ensure effective planning of the electrical grid of South Africa into the next century.