The “new” initiative is not new. Sure, Africa is blessed with vast open spaces of sunshine. Rockefeller built his empire on the premise it’s not about production but distribution. Had Governer Schwartzeneger thought about this, they could have avoided air pollution from coal fired power stations in neighbouring states so California could import electricity over thousands of km, split water and make hydrogen to run cars, a total climate change failure. Hydrogen transport is crazy. Like lunatic crazy. It has to be compressed to very high pressures and transported in very thick steel containers. Lots of mass on our damaged roads because rail is shot to pieces with very little energy being transported. Or expensive pipelines. Or it has to be bound chemically – ammonia , methanol both toxic and then burnt inefficiently where needed. Transport kills it. No good for the environment either, but in South Africa we let our big polluters carry on regardless and nail the small guy.
Solar flares, anomalies in our magnetic field like the South Atlantic Anomaly, volcanoes all affect climate change in ways that far exceed man’s emissions. The carbon tax that South Africans will have to pay next year is really going to hurt our economy as BBBEE has done. But doesn’t matter how much tax we pay, it’s not going to change a thing. It’s all a sham.
Our government, desperate for cash to keep funding corruption are playing into the hands of the Europeans who simply want to take what little remains offshore and render the country helpless to do anything about it.
Is also not new. Sasol have been doing it for years. The only economically viable alternative, used where it is produced to manufacture synthetic fuel which we desperately need so folks can drive. Who knows how long Sasol will be producing? The plant at Natref has been running many years and the process uses some very dangerous chemicals.
Solar energy
No one can match the process efficiency of photosynthesis for solar energy capture and storage. It’s great for carbon capture, for the environment and food production.
Man made waste
We are amongst the world leaders in terms of pollution of our air, water and environment. Also at failing to provide clean water, power and sanitation. Too much corruption and not enough planning and foresight. To the point where our municipal dumps have or are reaching capacity, new sites have to be developed further outside of city limits, increasing the burden on our roads and the taxpayer again has to foot the bill of increased costs.
Internationally anyone still interested in funding government corruption has carte blanche when deciding which strings to attach. So now it’s climate change taxation. Or using natural gas instead of coal which no doubt will benefit those with vested interests in our neighbours who have much to sell.
Those who can have mostly already installed solar and gas to get off grid and the speculation of how Eskom are going to tax this only adds credence to the scenario that they along with other SOE’s have gone over the cliff with the gravy train.
Communities that have realised they are going to have to fend for themselves and do so when it comes to the provision of power, water and sanitation will thrive. Those that do not will simply disintegrate. Most of these will not have access to cheap energy such as coal and because nuclear takes so long to develop the only option is to use the waste they generate, supplemented with waste from cutting verges, keeping public spaces well, using waste from agricultural activities and cultivating new trees, parks and spaces that benefit the community. To process the waste on a scale that provides for the needs of the community as and when power and water are required. A radical paradigm shift.
We can lead the world as South Africans in this space if we get over our racial divides and work together. I hope and pray Our President will take the initiative.
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