With South Africa being a water-scarce country, opportunities for widespread hydroelectricity production are largely limited to sites capable of generating under 100MW each, according to information provided by the US Department of Energy.
One such small-scale hydroelectric power plant has been operating intermittently in a hidden nook on the Mooi River, which runs through the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, since the 1970s. According to Peter Ward, who co-owns Kruisfontein Farming with Dr Strydom Steyn, local lore is that the various previous owners of this hydropower plant, and the land on which it stands, used and modified the plant to suit their own needs over the decades.
IMPORTING A TURBINE
“In 2012, when Dr Steyn bought the land, the hydroelectric plant on it was in disrepair. He and an electrical engineer friend, Johan van Zyl, upgraded the 430m furrow used to temporarily divert water from the Mooi River and down to the power plant, and imported a new turbine and plant control equipment from the Siapro engineering company in Slovenia, Eastern Europe,” explains Ward.
Steyn and Van Zyl formed a small business, Mooi Hydro, in 2013 with the intention of selling the hydroelectricity to Eskom. This, according to Ward, was when “Eskom had money and was buying electricity from independent power producers”.
Mooi Hydro signed a supply contract, which was to be renewed annually, with Eskom, making Mooi Hydro the only private hydroelectricity supplier to Eskom at that time. However, within a few years, the utility stopped renewing supply contracts with many independent power producers, including Mooi Hydro.
Denne historien er fra February 21, 2020-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra February 21, 2020-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
