Green electricity will not be cheap

[rpm]

Green electricity won't be cheap

Still, DoE favours nuclear and renewables alongside coal in the mix.

[ocleroux]

I still think its amazing how France is almost entrirely powered by nuclear, has had not major accidents and manages to have some of the cheapest electricity in Europe. It shows you that if you have a government that is running well, is not known to issue contracts for power stations to companies that the ruling party has shares in etc etc, it can be done well.

[Tpex]

It won't be cheap because the tenders are going to the scumbags who pays the highest bribes....

[g-d-zilla]

It won't be cheap because the tenders are going to the scumbags who pays the highest bribes....

Absolutely right! And "scumbags" they truly are! Eskom included. They are "writing off" R2-bn in "bad debt" and "cable theft" from Soweto alone. If the parastatal can afford to write off R2-bn from one area alone, they can afford to give free electricity to the entire country. Why should Soweto be singled out and forgiven its trespasses and sins, while every other municipal area in the country has to pay up or be disconnected? Get hold of your local ward councillor or your political party leader and start making appropriate NOISES that we South Africans DEMAND that Eskom decision to write off two-billion Rand be reversed immediately, else they must provide the country with more affordable electricity. We all depend on electricity, why should Soweto residents and businesses get theirs free?

[McT]

I doubt that they factored in the 25% per increase Eskom are forcing on us?

Reading through a FM magazine the other day and their special report on things "green" ... in there it stated that the cost of wind power would be virtually almost the same as coal power in the next few years (because of Eskom increasing prices, etc.)

Something else to consider ... what will it cost us to deal with global warming in the coming years if we do not make an effort to go green now. If worst case scenarios are realised, then it would mean having to move cities and towns inland such as Cape Town, PE and others. Add that alone and I think it's worth migrating to green power.

[thesuspect]

A lot can also be done in saving energy. If rebates and subsidies are given to other products (like those given to solar geysers), then a lot can be saved right in the home or factory. But a 15W CFL still costs R25 and newer LED technology costs almost R100 for a down light. Roof insulation is a good idea. Also, in Europe, most showers are fitted with small electric water heaters instead of keeping a 150 litre geyser warm all day and night. I switch my geyser on for 1 hour a day and save a stack on electricity, however it is a schlepp to do, but a geyser timer would cost me R1000. Eskom could start offering rebates on these types of products, and as volumes increase, prices will come down.

[vzta22]

I still think its amazing how France is almost entrirely powered by nuclear, has had not major accidents and manages to have some of the cheapest electricity in Europe. It shows you that if you have a government that is running well, is not known to issue contracts for power stations to companies that the ruling party has shares in etc etc, it can be done well.

France is a financial powerhouse compared to SA. France's GDP is in trillions so they are in a better position to put up nuclear power plants to service the entire country. It would be a very costly exercise for SA to go the nuclear power route. If they do they would have to get more than 25% (x5 probably) tariff increases from consumers to fund the nuclear power plant projects to power the entire country.

[The Trutherizer]

I read that the cost of putting up a state of the art nuclear power plant in the US is $5bil to $12bil . The output of these stations is estimated at around 1500MW each. I am surprised at the incredibly high costs associated with putting up plants in South Africa. Even $12Bil is about R84bil. So why does 5 or 6 stations cost R1trillion in South Africa? That's closer to R200Bil per station. And nuclear is probably the most expensive option. I smell a gravy drenched rat somewhere.

[phenom]

Of course not, but w a nuclear catastrophe?
Coal is not such a bad bet, many new methods of enrichment are on the drawing boards.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6590538.ece

Wind and the new development of offshore wind is also a good deal, and we've also got to aid
the development of these technologies. EspecIêy here n Cape Town wth the south sea
boasting the highest wind speeds on the planet.

And destroying the life style of so many villages would be a good idea either.
Any way interesting debate on the topic: http://www.youtube.corr(watch?v—1JK8ccWSZkid

[Jola]

I smell a gravy drenched rat somewhere.

That !

[zippy]

A lot can also be done in saving energy. If rebates and subsidies are given to other products (like those given to solar geysers), then a lot can be saved right in the home or factory. But a 15W CFL still costs R25 and newer LED technology costs almost R100 for a down light. Roof insulation is a good idea. Also, in Europe, most showers are fitted with small electric water heaters instead of keeping a 150 litre geyser warm all day and night. I switch my geyser on for 1 hour a day and save a stack on electricity, however it is a schlepp to do, but a geyser timer would cost me R1000. Eskom could start offering rebates on these types of products, and as volumes increase, prices will come down.

I doubt that any house/flat in Europe has a geyser. In the UK we use gas fired boilers. They are small and compact. Easily maintained. Hot water is virtually instant. South Africa does not have the gas infrastructure to implement this.

[Eddy125]

The only reason green power is so expensive is because our local retailers who exploit there prices so as they can get rich quick. All retailers are taking us for a ride to justify Eskoms increases. Look at what they charge for led lamps to see how every thing is out of preportion. Total disgust, then they wonder why we look else where for products like China for better prices