Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters/MBA)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/37942

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    Adoption of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Technology in Residential Sectional-Title and Townhouse Community Schemes Market in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Nkuna, Howard Siboniso; Mazonde, Nomusa
    The research was undertaken based on the experienced load-shedding and power outages in SouthAfrica. It was observed that other market segments, such as commercial real estate, businesses,industries, and residential customers with standalone houses, have adopted solar PV technology tomitigate the impact of load-shedding and power outages. The research was undertaken to identifyand analyse the factors hindering or facilitating solar PV technology adoption and identify activities ofresponsive business model elements that can facilitate solar PV system installation in the residentialsectional-title and townhouse community schemes in South Africa. A qualitative research approachwas used to undertake the study.The research conducted on the factors hindering and facilitating solar PV technology adoption in thesectional-title and townhouse community schemes segment of the residential market in South Africahas revealed significant insights. The study identified many barriers that impede the widespreadadoption of solar PV systems in these community schemes. These barriers encompass social andstakeholder collaboration challenges, institutional, policy, and legislative hurdles, financialconstraints, limitations in land, building, and roof resources, technical and technological obstacles, aswell as company resources and operational barriers.On the contrary, the study also sheds light on various factors that facilitate the adoption of solar PVtechnology in these residential communities. These facilitating factors include the impact of load-shedding on the demand for backup solutions like solar PV, the influence of social, stakeholder, andindustry players in driving awareness and engagement, the role of incentives, policy, and legislativeinstruments in promoting solar PV investment, the principle of economies of scale in driving adoptionin larger communities, and the perceived benefits of solar PV adoption across economic,environmental, social, and energy security domains.The research question focused on exploring the activities of a responsive business model that canfacilitate solar PV system installation in the residential sectional-title and townhouse communityschemes in South Africa. The study findings revealed two business models, i.e., the customer-ownedbusiness model (COBM) and the third-party-owned business model (TPOBM).
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    Coal and the Environment: Some implications for South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Makhombothi, Ntuthuko; Rangasamy, Logan
    South Africa’s coal industry faces an existential threat from the need to transition to a low carbon economy. This study analyses the implications of the Just Energy Transition (JET) on the coal industry of South Africa using mixed methods approach and secondary data from industry reports, government reports and academic sources. The study demonstrates the significant economic contribution of coal to the GDP, employment and energy security, while evaluating the JET framework against international principles. Although the JET framework is largely aligned with international principles, there are some areas for improvement. The decommissioning of the Komati power station illustrates the shortcoming in the distributive, restorative and redistributive justice. The findings suggest a need for a balanced JET that ensures economic growth, energy security and environmental sustainability. Further research is required to develop transition pathways that mitigate against the negative socioeconomic consequences for coal dependent communities
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    The impact of the Development Bank of Southern Africa's investments on performance of renewable energy SMEs
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Mashabathakga, Tshidi; Mondi, Lumkile
    This study assesses the impact of Development Bank of South African (DBSA) investment on performance of renewable energy solar photovoltaic (PV) SMEs. While The DBSA is one of the leading African Development Financial Institutions (DFI) wholly owned by the government of South Africa, established in 1983 to promote economic development, growth, and regional integration through infrastructure finance to improve the quality of people’s lives Quantitative research was applied, the descriptive statistics used Analysis of variance (ANOVA) to analyse the empirical findings. The study indicates that funding had a minimal impact on employment, significant impact on solar photovoltaic installation and after-sales support skills development, a significant impact on expansion in the value chain into local warehousing for material storage and information and communication technology cluster development, and a minimal impact on revenue and market share growth. This study proposes a solution through the adoption of Porter’s value chain framework to enable development and growth across the end-to-end business chain in order to realise job creation, critical skills development for solar PV solution, and revenue and market growth. Furthermore, the study recommends possible solutions for long-term air pollution (carbon emission), and landfill pollution from the solar PV renewable energy
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    Developing our financial markets to finance the energy transition
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Madungandaba, Gcebile F.
    Developing a financial market is complex and tedious; therefore, the needs of various stakeholders must be considered, and market efficiency must be ensured to develop the renewable energy (RE) market effectively. This study offers valuable guidance on the effective allocation of capital resources in the renewable energy (RE) market to facilitate a smooth transition to renewable energy. To achieve this aim, panel data from 42 developing nations in Africa, Asia, and South America, spanning 1990-2019, are analysed. This study uses a panel fixed effects model to investigate the relationship between renewable energy production and credit, equity, and bond market development. The results of the empirical analysis suggest that all three dimensions of financial development, namely credit, equity, and bond, are positively associated with renewable energy production, albeit to varying degrees. This work also proposes a framework to promote renewable energy production in developing countries based on the empirical findings and existing literature. The framework highlights the leading renewable energy policy categories and specific policies most effectively promoting renewable energy production in emerging markets
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    Factors contributing to the success of female leaders in South African Independent Power Producers
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Madali, Lusani Jacqueeline
    Globally, there is a transition towards low-carbon energy sources, and countries, including South Africa, are including renewable energy power generation into their energy mix to reduce carbon emissions and meet gender mainstreaming and equality objectives. The energy sector remains one of the most minor gender-diverse sectors in the economy. Studies have indicated that there are barriers and enabling factors that contribute to the success of female leaders. The study aimed to explore and analyse factors (barriers and enablers) contributing to the success of female leaders in South African Independent Power Producers. The research adopted a generic qualitative approach using a non-random sampling technique (self-selection) followed by thematic data analysis and interpretation to derive the narrative towards the study objectives. Data was collected from nine female participants from leading renewable energy IPP companies through semi-structured interview questions undertaken via an online platform. The study's key finding was how the feminist theory came into play when the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the social norms, which shifted stereotype, patriarchal and discrimination views about females. In summary, the study also indicated that contributing factors could be both negative extrinsic (generational disadvantages, unconscious bias, discrimination, patriarchy, and stereotype) and intrinsic (lack of self-confidence) and positive extrinsic (support system, mentoring and training) and intrinsic (self-confidence), which can be a barrier or an enabler towards females attaining leadership roles within the renewable energy IPPs