Nova_energy

In this focus area Nova is concerned with the energy usage patterns of households. We believe that it is important for households to have access to clean and efficient energy solutions. Nova therefore endeavours to develop and promote energy efficient solutions (methods, technologies and products) especially for low-income households. In our experience it is sometimes necessary to adapt solutions that work in developed societies to make it functional in a low-income African context. Our Basa Magogo project is one of our flag ship projects illustrating the merit of our research and development approach for cleaner energy solutions.

BASA MAGOGO

Brief background on how it started...

The Basa Magogo method was named after a community member of eMbalenhle near Secunda, South Africa, Granny Nebelungu Mashinini. She perfected the method when Nova introduced and tested it on a small scale. Top-down ignition was one of a number of technologies that has the potential to reduce air pollution caused by the domestic use of coal, that Nova evaluated in actual conditions in 1998. These tests formed part of an intensive participatory research and development process conducted by Nova during the 1990’s.

Basa Magogo means: Light up, grandmother! In Zamdela near Sasolburg, South Africa, the method was called: Basa Mama, which means: Light up, Mama! In 2004 Nova - as well as Sasol, who was the main sponsor of the development of the method - informed the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) that we had no objection if they registered the name Basa njengo Magogo in the Department's name. Nova pointed out to the Department that different communities use different names, and that the term Basa njengo Magogo does not include the methods used to convince residents to change the way they ignite coal fires. Basa njengo Magogo means: Light up like grandmother! Recently the method was taken up as part of The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT)'s Clean Fires Campaign.

The Basa Magogo Method

As a method, Basa Magogo is quite simple: instead of starting the fire with paper and wood at the bottom and then adding coal on top, the opposite procedure is followed. That is, the paper and wood is placed on top of the coal, and the fire burns from the top downwards. It must, however, be done correctly.

The only way people can be convinced to use BM is direct demonstration, person to person. In 2007 and 2008, Nova added 60 000 new users in townships from QwaQwa to Middelburg (Click here for a full list of places.) The local churches and church members provide the social networks to reach all these households. The projects were done with support from the Fair Climate Programme of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands – bringing the overseas churches and the local congregations and church members into a partnership.

Advantages of BM

The benefits to households that use BM are substantial: savings in purchasing coal have been well documented and are on average R380 per household p.a.; that is R22.8 million or about €1,9 million p.a. for the 60 000 households Nova added with the help of ICCO-Kerk in Actie in 2007 and 2008.

Savings in health costs are more difficult to quantify, but, based on several well-documented surveys it is estimated to be at least 10 times more. Al residents, including those who do not use coal, experience cleaner air and much better health, but the users of this method benefit the most.

The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is about 1 ton of CO2eq per household p.a., or an additional 60 000 ton of CO2eq p. a. since 2007, that are now included in ICOO-Kerk in Actie’s Fair Climate Programme (ICCO-Kerk in Actie and Fair and Sustainable are part of the Protestant Church of the Netherlands).

The development of Basa Magogo is a joint effort between researchers and community members that proves that continuous close interaction between people from outside the community and people from inside can lead to the creative step that can trigger a massive positive result.

Training of Teams

Nova has a dedicated team providing training on all aspects of the Basa Magogo method.

Here is an example of fieldworkers attending a practical demonstration on how to light a domestic coal burning device, called an imbawula, the Basa Magogo way during one of these training sessions.

BIOGAS

Designing of Biogas Digesters for Low-income Households

The Nova Biogas project is still in an early stage of the research and design process. The goal of the project is to develop an excellent biogas digester suitable for a typical South African rural household. If an innovative solution could be developed we hope to implement the digester on a large scale in the target community.

The research question is why the success of domestic biogas technology in other parts of the world has not been repeated in Africa. The technical aspects are well understood but the way that the digester would function within the African household and the mutual interactions and combinations of the different aspects in the digester as well as in the household are not well understood. It is as if one tries to fit a spare part of one car into another, and finds that either the spare part, or the car, or both, have to be modified for a successful fit.

In this case, the household into which the biogas technology must fit is a complex whole formed by the way in which a variety of aspects interact and combine to form the present reality. The introduction of a new subsystem such as biogas technology, that consists of various aspects itself, will lead to the formation of a new reality. This new reality can be something different from what was anticipated or intended. The combination of aspects from both the household and the biogas-digester results in a reality that is more than the sum of the parts. The combination of two gasses, H2 plus O2, for example, produces a completely new reality, water.

The design problem is to anticipate the best possible new reality and the way in which the biogas technology and/or the household can be adapted to realise that reality.

We anticipate doing the project in phases. We hope to reach the following outcome at the end of phase 3:

One or more living models of households with biogas digesters that are desirable to residents, effective, sustainable, beneficial, affordable and that can be multiplied indefinitely in similar communities in Southern Africa
A proposal for the large scale implementation of these digesters

Nova is confident that the key to reach the goal of phase 1 lies in the understanding of the dynamics of the African household. The problem will not be solved if the technology is the point of departure, because the role of the technology is determined by the dynamics of the household. This means that the technology and the household must be re-designed together and that the residents and the researchers must be able to integrate their diverse perspectives in the design.

Minimum requirements that would apply to all types of households will have to be determined, e.g. the availability of water and the amount of feedstock. The project is planned in three stages. The deliverable for Phase One is a few (2-3) well motivated designs that will be evaluated.

The completion of this work is planned for March/April 2009. The literature survey is continuing and we have visited two sites where biogas digesters are implemented as well as one site where a number of systems are being installed. We have established relationships with a number of experts.