RESEARCH

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RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTION TO POLICY
DEVELOPMENT
Lerato Mmutlana CSIR Strategic Business
Relationship Manager Government
2
Background

• President Mbekis Opening of Parliament
  Speech indicated importance of energy,
  especially in developing areas
• DACST and NACI concerned
• about under-investment in energy research
• Implementation of energy
• technologies cannot take place in
• a policy vacuum
• Formulation of policy
• complimented by quantitative
• inputs

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DACST NRTF Energy sector mission
To identify strategic research and technology
topics and strategies for the energy sector in
South Africa that would realize sustainable
economic and social benefits for the country over
the next 15-20 years NRTF overall RT priority
areas (synthesis report)
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Global Context Policy

• . Major Global Developments have changed the
  political and economic context against which
  global energy policy frameworks develop
• - Worldwide concern about environmental impact
  of energy consumption.
• . In a global scale a comprehensive energy policy
  framework is being adopted, attention is given
  to
• - Energy efficiency measures
• - Energy supply diversification
• - Use of renewable forms of energy
• - Clean energy technologies
• - Environmental protection
• - Sustainable economic growth

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SWOT of SA energy sector

• . Strengths
• SA has strong natural resource base, variety of
  energy options
• Well-developed energy, rail, road grid
  infrastructure
• Electrification programme delivering
  infrastructure energy to disadvantaged
• Benefits of economy of scale
• Well developed core skills base

• . Weaknesses
• Limited national policy vision for energy RT
• Industry supply side mentality
• Economy depends on polluting primary energy
  sources
• Insufficient local energy RD expertise
• Lack of knowledge of needs technology
• Limited/low value addition to resources

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SWOT of SA energy sector

• Opportunities
• Natural resources available in region for
  value-addition
• Use energy technologies to improve quality of
  life
• Energy efficiency improvement through value chain
• Significant growth potential for renewables

• Threats
• High level of poverty with low growth rate
• Spiral of non-payment non-delivery may continue
• Slow technological development lack of
  appropriate skills
• Low level of funding and lack of incentives for
  RD
• Lack of focus in technology development

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The Role of CSIR in Policy Formulation
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Purpose and goal of CSIRenergy focus
To promote the development and use of energy
through technological innovation. The goal is
for CSIR to be a significant player in South
Africa, Africa and selected international markets
in innovation with regard to the development and
use of energy.
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Background for the Energy Thrust in CSIR
Consultation

• Energy Initiative
• - Desktop research and a SWOT analyses were
  undertaken to clearly define status quo.
• - One-on-one discussions held with SU
  representatives with competencies in the
  energy sector sector.
• - Workshops were held with all relevant S.Us in
  CSIR to determine overall expertise and
  competencies.
• - Other relevant outside stakeholders were
  invited to present on their energy activities
  including NER, DME, Eskom, etc.

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Background for the Energy Thrust in CSIR
Consultation

• DME The Minister has expressed the need for CSIR
  to play an important role in providing inputs
  during the decision-making process and on the
  impact of various energy sources on the
  environment and during the decision-making
  process.
• Other stakeholders and interested parties
  consulted include
• - CSIR Board Members
• - ECN and TNO (Netherlands)
• - RISO (Denmark)
• - Shell
• - World Bank
• - NREL (US)
• - Universities/Technikons

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Energy Thrust Research Initiatives

• Areas where CSIR could add value in the Energy
  sector were identified
• - Strategic Decision Support (e.g. policy
  formulation, proactive planning technologies
  through modelling and simulation of energy
  systems).
• - Energy efficiency
• - Energy and the Environment
• - Renewable Energy
• - Energy for Rural Development
• New opportunities
• - Gas
• - Energy Technology SMMEs

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Some R D opportunities

• Simulation, modelling and forecasting
  quantitative inputs to policy formulation
• Value costing The cost drivers within the
  value chain are quantified 
• Green buildings energy efficiency projects
  (housing and industrial)  Environmental impacts
  of different energy sources
• Niche role in development of fuel cell
• technology
•  

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Some Current Multi-disciplinary Energy projects

• DME Hosting of Markal Model in CSIR for
  Integrated Energy Planning. 
• NER Project Co-ordiantion for hybrid
  mini-grid systems in Hluleka (EC).  
• Eskom Electricity Demand Forecasting.
• DME/Eskom/CSIR Renewable Energy Database
  (DANCED funded).
• Environmental Impact Assesment for gas
  pipeline.
•  

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Conclusions
. Insufficient R D funds in critical
sector. . Need for R D energy funding
strategy for South Africa. . Role of Science
Councils and other research institutions
within this strategy. . CSIR can play a
more effective role in both policy and strategy
formulation.