The South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) commissioned the University of Johannesburg’s Process, Energy and Environmental Technology Station (UJ PEETS) to take stock of the current status of micro-digesters and the wider state of the technology in South Africa and globally. UJ PEETS, together with the DSI/NRF/Newton Fund Trilateral Research Chair in Transformative Innovation, the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Sustainable Development (UJ-TRCTI), conducted research over the period of two years, with significant levels of stakeholder engagement that has culminated in the development of a Sector Development Plan (SDP). This Plan outlines three pathways that the micro-digester sector in South Africa can take to ensure growth and sustainability of the sector by 2030. The first pathway focuses on increasing uptake of this technology in rural areas. The second pathway looks to pilot micro-digester use in urban areas, especially urban gardens, food establishments and small housing developments. The third pathway is cross-cutting and focuses on actions to create a supportive enabling environment relating to skills and training, financing, regulation and policy.
The Residential Energy Consumption project is focused around the collection of residential energy consumption data. This data is based upon the types of electrical appliances and their end-use by individuals within the different Living Standard Measure (LSM) across South Africa. The appliance end-use data utilised within the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) model for analysis, enabling policy makers with a better understanding and visibility of residential energy side. Furthermore, this project supports aspects of the review of the National Energy Efficiency Strategy (NEES) targets, together with the National Standards & Labelling Programme (S&L) impact assessment.