The Government of South Africa has received financing from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) towards the cost of Renewable Energy Market Transformation (REMT) in the country.
The REMT project was launched to help South Africa eliminate barriers to renewable energy development through support for policy, regulation, legislation, financing mechanisms, institutional capacity building and grant finance for selected project development. The project has two main components, the Renewable Energy Power Generation (REPG) sub-component and the Solar Water Heating (SWH) sub-component.
Through the REMT project, the Department of Energy (DoE) has developed an ambitious Solar Water Heating Strategic Framework with clear targets which is planned to be operational from April 2009. As part of testing the strategic framework, the Department is now collaborating with the Free State Province which has also announced a very high target of 40 000 Solar Water Heating units to be installed in the Province. However, it is essential that a comprehensive business plan should be developed to inform the implementation of the project. Thus the objectives of this assignment is to compile a comprehensive business case, which will serve as a catalyst and road map for implementation of SWHs project in identified areas/municipalities in the Province.
The Department of Energy (DoE) has appointed the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to assist with implementation of the REMT project through the REMT Implementation Support Unit (ISU) that has been established within DBSA.
The Southern African Alternative Energy Association (SAAEA), with collaboration and in the interest of it’s members have decided to contribute to this program.
DBSA requires input on the following subjects:
Scan the environment in the identified areas/municipalities and recommend appropriate SWH systems in terms of needs and affordability (e.g. closed or coupled system) for the Province.
Analyse structures of the households in the identified areas (3 houses per area) and recommend appropriate design for SWHs installation in respective areas.
Analyse the socio-economic impacts of the project in the Province.
Analyse manufacturing and/or suppliers’ capacity available in the province and what manufacturing and supply capacity building would be required.
Analyse training needs for installation.
Develop implementation plan covering all possible elements of the national SWH strategic framework including structure of events for supply and installations, procurement, equipment specification, training, maintenance, costing institutional arrangement and stakeholder involvement
