Use and management of energy resources from Water, Energy, and Food (WEF) nexus perspective: The case of Vhembe District Municipality (VDM), Limpopo Province
Water, Energy, and Food (WEF) are necessity resources required by human beings for sustenance, social, and economic development. Energy is at the centre of the WEF nexus due to its dual role as a driver of economic activity and the largest contributor to global warming and climate change risks. In response, most countries following the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate action have adopted renewable energy (herein referred to as smart energy practices and innovations) policies to mitigate the adverse impacts of energy on climate change, as well as address health and environmental crises. Such measures and policies are also pursued to enhance energy security and economic prosperity. Though South Africa is one of the countries that has adopted an ambitious renewable energy policy, there is a paucity of information on factors influencing the adoption of renewable based energy resources and potential outcomes at the household level, where most of the envisioned policy objectives are expected to be pursued and realised. The current study was conducted in the Nzhelele and Luvuvhu River catchment areas in the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) of Limpopo Province. A mixed methods approach was used to gather information on energy access and use at the household level through household questionnaires and triangulated through key informant interviews (KII) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Economic analysis of existing energy practices and innovations was analysed using a Net Present Value (NPV) analysis, and environmental performance assessed through Partial Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). Analysis of data was done in Excel and IBMR SPSSR Statistics version 28 based on weight estimation and multinomial logistic regression approaches. Biomass and mains electricity are the main sources of energy, with energy stacking being a universal strategy observed in majority of households. Renewable energy sources such as solar energy are rarely used at the household level. Approximately 62% of the respondents cited lack of knowledge (inadequate access to information) on the smart energy technologies and their availability as the most significant limiting factor in their adoption. This was followed by poor reliability of smart energy technologies at about 53%, cost saving potential at about 45%, and availability of finance at about 48%. For those in agriculture, market access at about 21% and return on investment at about 19% is an important consideration in the choice of smart energy technologies. Ease of availability and cost of energy type at 35% and 39% respectively were the main factors likely to influence the choice of smart energy innovations. Cost of alternatives at about 13%, load shedding at about 14 %, and socio-economic lockins i.e., culture and past policies at about 12% of the respondents. Employment and to a greater extent, total household income status, emerge as the only factor that significantly (P< 0.005) influences the adoption of smart energy innovations. The use of biomass and LPG are significant predictors of reliability in existing energy innovation. Though renewable energy sources such as solar can reduce environmental footprints, the initial cost and intermittent supply due to weather constrain their adoption. The adverse impact of non-renewable resources such as biomass on health and environment are inherent through higher emission levels. The same applies to coal generated electricity. However, the fact that such sources are cheaper and easily available due to economic lockins also constrains the transition to cleaner energy sources at household level. In conclusion, WEF approach can inform sustainability transition and energy security with economic empowerment and awareness creation, including access to higher education and income earning opportunities being more likely to mediate the transition to smart energy at household level.
Household Energy ladder, Energy mix, Energy stacking, Energy security, Renewable energy, Vhembe District Municipality, WEF nexus, UCTD
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