Solar water heating systems are not being installed in low-cost housing units as planned due to the dti’s interpretation of what constitutes 70% locally manufactured.
to meet its own goals. In June 2009, Dipuo
Peters, the then Minister of Energy, stated in
her budget speech that “the Department will
ensure that one million solar water heaters
are installed in households and commercial
buildings over a period of five years”.
By the end of 2012, 330 000 low-pressure
solar water heaters had been installed in
low-cost housing. An additional 75 000
high-pressure solar water heaters had been
installed in middle and upper income homes,
so 600 000 were needed to reach Peters’
target. Of these, 500 000 were intended for
low-income homes, and were tabled for
completion by March next year and the
budget was made available.
But then the dti’s restrictive definition was
passed on to Treasury and all new solar water
installations were invalidated. The number of
geysers installed into low-cost homes since
then? “Not one,” says Green. “Currently there
are 24 000 systems sitting in stock in fa