South African miners plan R60 billion of power projects

[ToxicBunny]

And Mantashe won't see it until it's too late...

Nah, Mantashe sees it.. no doubt, but he's doing everything in his power to frustrate it because it impacts his retirement fund and his support base in the coal mining and transport industries... Less opportunity for skiving off the top when you're talking private entities generating power in hundreds (if not tens of thousands) of locations all over the country.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

everything is "maak a plan" in SA,

police ineffective, private security,
potholes, Private insurance sponsored pothole repair.
traffic lights out, Insurance sponsored pointsmen

and now this, mines/Companies generating their own power.

what exactly do we pay taxes for? for Zumas Bubble bath, and for bribes the ANC Dishes out at Churches?
seriously does the Government actually do something with that money, other than stash in in Dubai, and spend it at the Big money Waster dealership?

 

[Mystic Twilight]

I was about to blast you into oblivion for that comment, because mines are usually placed in areas that are specifically bad for geothemal plants (low thermal gradients).

I did say IF, also is blasting anyone necessary, you could just explain it normally like "oh just bear in mind that a lot of mines have low temperatures which make them unsuitable for geothermal power generation". Or was the opportunity to snub/spurn someone and prove your superior intellect too hard to pass over .

 

[ADrunkTeddyBear]

Cryptominers?

 

[WollieVerstege]

I did say IF, also is blasting anyone necessary, you could just explain it normally like "oh just bear in mind that a lot of mines have low temperatures which make them unsuitable for geothermal power generation". Or was the opportunity to snub/spurn someone and prove your superior intellect too hard to pass over .

You have to understand that people in the traditional energy market is very concerned about geothermal, precisely because it ticks all the boxes, sustainable, renewable and provides base load - the one thing so far they can use against renewables.

These are the areas suitable for geothermal power in SA:

 

[wingnut771]

You have to understand that people in the traditional energy market is very concerned about geothermal, precisely because it ticks all the boxes, sustainable, renewable and provides base load - the one thing so far they can use against renewables.

These are the areas suitable for geothermal power in SA:
View attachment 1200586

Lol - so pretty much where all the big metros are

 

[Muiskas]

And Mantashe won't see it until it's too late...

Praying Mantishe looks like the result of many generations of inbreeding, combined with a drinking and learning problem.

He'll never see it, even if it hits him in the face.

 

[WollieVerstege]

Lol - so pretty much where all the big metros are

That is one of the benefits of geothermal. As it is safer than nuclear and better for the environment and peoples health than coal, it can be built relatively close to populated areas. Not advising we build it in the city center, but if we use Cape Town as a case study, you could certainly build one next to Koeberg. You could also convert other peaker plants like Ankerlig if need be.
Biggest downside to geothermal at the moment is cost, but like with wind and solar, this to shall change.

 

[wingnut771]

That is one of the benefits of geothermal. As it is safer than nuclear and better for the environment and peoples health than coal, it can be built relatively close to populated areas. Not advising we build it in the city center, but if we use Cape Town as a case study, you could certainly build one next to Koeberg. You could also convert other peaker plants like Ankerlig if need be.
Biggest downside to geothermal at the moment is cost, but like with wind and solar, this to shall change.

You don't have to tell me twice. You had me at "these are the suitable areas". If Kenya can do it so can we. Not very big numbers though.

 

[WollieVerstege]

You don't have to tell me twice. You had me at "these are the suitable areas". If Kenya can do it so can we. Not very big numbers though.

Agreed also on the numbers. But PV and wind also initially had low numbers, and we managed to get that up. Developments are ongoing. Funding is tricky at the moment though.

According to that map, in Cape Town, reaching the ideal temperature would mean drilling down about 4km, exactly the depth of the deepest mine in SA. So we certainly know how to do it.

 

[Oldfut]

That is one of the benefits of geothermal. As it is safer than nuclear and better for the environment and peoples health than coal, it can be built relatively close to populated areas. Not advising we build it in the city center, but if we use Cape Town as a case study, you could certainly build one next to Koeberg. You could also convert other peaker plants like Ankerlig if need be.
Biggest downside to geothermal at the moment is cost, but like with wind and solar, this to shall change.

Maybe another option in the right locality is geothermal cooling, occasionally heating (in SA) with wells at relatively shallow depth where there are the appropriate conditions (high water table?) as temperature underground at shallow depth is very stable in the low 20's - I know a contractor tried to drum up interest for this at one time in SA but he has since emigrated to Oz.

 

[wingnut771]

Maybe another option in the right locality is geothermal cooling, occasionally heating (in SA) with wells at relatively shallow depth where there are the appropriate conditions (high water table?) as temperature underground at shallow depth is very stable in the low 20's - I know a contractor tried to drum up interest for this at one time in SA but he has since emigrated to Oz.

How do you make electricity from that?

 

[WollieVerstege]

Maybe another option in the right locality is geothermal cooling, occasionally heating (in SA) with wells at relatively shallow depth where there are the appropriate conditions (high water table?) as temperature underground at shallow depth is very stable in the low 20's - I know a contractor tried to drum up interest for this at one time in SA but he has since emigrated to Oz.

Yeah, that can be used to cool or heat a single house/building at a time. Essentially a "natural" AC. It can reduce the amount of electricity for a that house/building. Actually have a simplified version of something similar on my farm in the Karoo, an indoor fishpond with water circulators and coolers.
What I am referring to here is developing electricity on a large scale for base load.

 

[Temujin]

Not too 'off topic', saw this alternative to batteries/pump storage/salt etc for anyone interested... huge gravity batteries, something we should be looking at given being a water scarce country

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