Investigating a green economy transition of the electricity sector in the Western Cape Province of South Africa : a system dynamics approach

Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Western Cape Government in South Africa has identified the concept of a green economy as a way to transform the Province’s economy to one that is more sustainable from an economic, social, and environmental perspective. System dynamics modelling was used to develop a better understanding of the implications of different green economy policies and investments in the electricity sector of the Western Cape Province. The results suggest that continuing on the current policy path would increase the gap between demand and supply, increase the carbon footprint of the electricity sector, and not provide growth in employment in the sector. Strategic green economy investments are therefore expected to impact positively on a number of indicators across a number of sectors.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Wes-Kaapse Regering van Suid-Afrika het die konsep van die groen ekonomie geïdentifiseer as ’n werktuig om die provinsie se ekonomie te omskep in een wat meer volhoubaar is van ’n ekonomiese, sosiale, en omgewings perspektief af. Stelseldinamika modellering was gebruik om ’n beter begrip te ontwikkel van die moontlike voordele en impakte wat verskillende groen ekonomie beleide en beleggings in die elektrisiteits-sektor van die Wes-Kaap kan bewerkstellig. Die resultate van die modellering stel voor dat die voortsetting van die huidige beginsels en beleid sal lei tot ’n groter gaping tussen die aanvraag en die verskaffing van elektriese krag, ’n groter koolstofvoetspoor van die elektrisiteits-sektor, en geen groei in die werkverskaffing van die sektor nie. Daar word verwag dat strategiese groen ekonomie beleggings ’n positiewe impak sal bewerkstellig in menigte aanwysers.
Description
CITATION: Oosthuizen, J., et al. 2016. Investigating a green economy transition of the electricity sector in the Western Cape Province of South Africa : a system dynamics approach. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 27(3):166-181, doi:10.7166/27-4-1522.
The original publication is available at http://sajie.journals.ac.za
Keywords
Sustainable development, Sustainable engineering, Clean energy, Electricity generation -- Supply and demand
Citation
Oosthuizen, J., et al. 2016. Investigating a green economy transition of the electricity sector in the Western Cape Province of South Africa : a system dynamics approach. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 27(3):166-181, doi:10.7166/27-4-1522