Application of photovoltaic solar energy to medium-scale installations

Bibliography: leaves 165-170.Although South Africa has significant energy reserves, some 50-60% of the South African population is without access to electricity. Lack of infrastructure is one of the root courses of which energy supply forms an important component. The energy sector is an integral part of the whole economy, and energy planning requires analysis of the links between the energy sector and the national economy. Local economy can be developed, if energy provision and supporting services are made available to rural areas. South Africa has, so far, developed and implemented energy activities without a solid base in energy policy and macro-economic planning. This has resulted in the situation where energy planning has taken place on a sectoral basis without much regard for socio-economic development objectives or inter-energy considerations