Implementing a Community Energy Shop, based on community energy needs and requirements (SAF/04/01)

Project Details & Results

The project seeks to establish a Community Energy Shop in the Maphephetheni Tribal Authority, which will increase community access, and reduce financial and other barriers to sustainable energy sources. The national non-grid electrification programme is battling with implementation and this approach of involving Community Energy Centres could provide a sustainable solution to rural energisation. The Global importance of the project is the introduction of biogas digesters on a significant scale that would have meaningful reduction of GHG emissions.

Notable Community Participation
The NGO has been active in the community since 1996, through their Solar Home Systems, which was endorsed and implemented by Chief F.T. Gwala. A letter of community support to the project is attached to the project proposal. The Maphephetheni community will own and manage the community energy shop and will allocate three small business ventures through a community tender process. Furthermore, the participatory implementation of the project is outlined as essential in the project document and this activities is assigned to every project component.

Capacity - Building Component
The activities relating to the ouput on the establishment of the energy shop, states that training material will be developed to train selected community members to install and maintain renewable energy systems i.e. treadle pumps, SHS and biogas digesters.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
The project aims to increase job opportunities in the community, the project expects to create three jobs through the business ventures. Additional income is expected to be generated through the installation of biogas digesters and other renewable energy sources.

Gender Focus
The project does not specifically focus on gender, an therefore no strategy has been adopted to maintsream gender into this project.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
The Maphephetheni tribal authority is targeted in this project. The community forms part of the Zulu Nation, one of the indigenous people of South Africa.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
Ouput five of this project aims to promote, inform and popularise the use of renewable energy through the preparation of flyers, promotional meetings, and setting up promotional material in the schools in this community. The contents of this material will be unpgraded on a six-monthly basis.

Energy recharged Torches, Radios & Cellphone chargers

GEL fuel using Stoves

Stove for Big Pots using GEL Fuel

Project is fully run by women