South Africa and Germany Team Up on Solar Power

A joint South Africa/German energy project is working to address South Africa's energy problems with a new programme to install 200,000 solar heaters on buildings.

Scientists at the University of Johannesburg have announced they are working with German researchers and government to develop sustainable energy transformation, writes South African news site allafrica.com.

The co-principal investigator in the EnerKey Research Project, Professor Harold Annegarn, says the programme aims to make existing buildings more energy efficient.

"This sub-project will assist the cities to devise economic and business models to install 200,000 solar water heaters within two years, a building retro-fit programme to make existing buildings more energy efficient," says Annegarn.

Germany and South Africa have common concerns regarding adequate energy provision and distribution, says Annergan.

By Ozge Ibrahim