The role of communication in promoting green energy in the King Cetshwayo District
Renewable energy is considered to be a viable and cost-effective solution to the problem of providing electricity to rural regions in many developing countries. The infrastructure challenges experienced by South Africa’s energy parastatal Eskom in providing a stable and affordable electricity supply to the country is compounded by criticism of Eskom’s continued use of coal-powered stations. The King Cetshwayo District has a high unemployment rate, with thousands of rural residents living in poverty, without access to water or electricity. The possibility of utilising organic waste to create biogas is an untapped market that would provide many advantages for rural dwellers. From a communications perspective, this study analysed how communications theories could be utilised to stimulate interest in renewable energy. The feasibility of using renewable energy as a source of electricity for households was considered, while the potential for job creation and other economic activities emanating from the production and sale of biogas was also examined. The study examined how the proximity of cattle herds on a substantial proportion of rural land could offer the opportunity to access animal waste, which is a core fuel source for biogas. If communities are amenable to the concept of a cheap and environmentally-friendly energy option, it would mean huge implications for the future of creating a green economy in the region. The research has found that biogas can also be bottled and sold at a fraction of the cost of purchasing conventional grid electricity. This will mean cost-savings for poor households as well as job creation for entrepreneurs who preserve and sell the gas. The study delved into the socio-economic advantages of using green energy in the King Cetshwayo District and the reasons why communication theories and strategies are critical to the further progress of renewable energy projects in the district.
communication --renewable energy --South Africa
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