The City of Tshwane will introduce a new 15 Mℓ hydropower reservoir early this evening. The Pierre van Ryneveld hydropower reservoir is located in Region 4 (south-eastern region) of the City and will augment the capacity of the existing water system.
The Pierre van Ryneveld Reservoir is the result of a research project by the University of Pretoria (UP) supported by the Water Research Commission (WRC) to investigate the potential of extracting available energy from existing and newly installed water supply and distribution systems.
The City of Tshwane will collaborate with the WRC to conduct research on power generation using closed-conduit systems. The practical research of the project was done by the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Pretoria.
The City of Tshwane is using this opportunity to explore the potential of installing hydroelectric generators in specific locations in water networks where large amounts of energy are dissipated with control valve systems. The pico-hydro plant at Pierre van Ryneveld is a pilot project.
Hydropower development has major potential benefits. Its installation often involves the construction of a weir and a simple intake structure with water transferred by a conduit or canal to a suitable point. It is sometimes referred to as 'greenfield' hydropower as it needs to be situated on rivers with a relatively constant flow and a suitable water drop.
Prior to opening the Pierre van Ryneveld Reservoir, the University of Pretoria, through funding from the WRC, installed a hydropower generation pilot unit at Queenswood Reservoir, also situated in Tshwane. The Queenswood Reservoir received its water from Rand Water at a pressure of up to 250 m and proved to be a huge success within the Municipality.
"Rand Water is currently using about 165 MW to transfer water to various reservoirs of which a large proportion could be used to generate hydropower," says Professor Fanie van Vuuren, a project leader and Head of the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Pretoria.
Professor van Vuuren further says "At a level of pico-hydropower generation which could benefit rural communities where communication to the world is a primary concern, the first indications are that some energy could be generated from the low flow rate and low head tapped from water supply. In these cases it will be possible to charge batteries and cell phones."
Cllr Percy Zitha, Member of the Mayoral Committee responsible for Public Works and Infrastructure Development says:"We see this as renewable energy, and it forms part of the objectives of the City of Tshwane to be a world leader in terms of its programmatic approach to the clean development mechanism (CDM). With COP17 now staged in South Africa, the City of Tshwane has an unique opportunity to draw international attention and to illustrate our commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
Based on the Kyoto Protocol, South Africa approved a White Paper on renewable energy in November 2003, which pushed the use of renewable energy to the forefront. Now, with COP17 taking place in South Africa, South Africa's Integrated Resource Plan for the period 2010 to 2030 calls for the deployment of 17 800 MW of energy from renewable resources.
Energy is the lifeblood of worldwide economic and social development. When considering the current status of global energy shortages, the emphasis to reduce CO2 emissions, the development of alternative energy generation methods and the growing energy consumption, it is clear that we need to change the way we create and use energy. The demand for energy increases continuously and needs to be met in order to stimulate worldwide development. Fossil fuels contribute a large percentage of global energy, but due to the dangers of global environmental impact, there is resistance to expanding it as an energy source. This forces our current generation to focus on the development of renewable energy sources.
Hydropower contributes only 3% of global energy consumption, but this is only a fraction of its potential. Africa is the most underdeveloped continent with regard to hydropower generation, with only 6% of its estimated potential being exploited. This situation presents South Africa with an opportunity to make a large contribution towards the lack of hydropower generation in Africa and the world.
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