The potential and reality of the solar water heater programme in South African townships: Lessons from the City of Tshwane

The South African solar water heater (SWH) programme is part of national policy to improve the country's electricity security, an innovative strategy to provide indigent households with free solar water heaters. The study assesses the effects of the government programme for poor townships on reduction of household electricity consumption, decline in energy poverty, and reduction in CO2 emissions; and estimates the impact of SWH on reducing electricity demand nationwide. It reports results from fieldwork carried out in the City of Tshwane to measure both quantitatively and qualitatively the success of the project's deployment in townships. Although households register average savings of 27% on their monthly electricity bills and off-peak electricity demand has reduced significantly in the area, a variety of problems prevented the project from attaining the desired level of impact. Difficulties encountered include technical faults with the heaters combined with nonavailability of maintenance; a rise in water consumption; lack of community engagement leading to apathy; and dearth of owner training leading to underuse. The gap between inflated estimates and real savings is discussed. Expanding the programme could generate jobs but significant challenges remain. •The government's aim of saving electricity and reducing utility bills partly achieved.•Savings of electricity are estimated at about 25% less than the potential saving.•Wrong assumption that peak time is only 1h produced savings 5 times larger.•ESKOM & government overlooked providing Information on the SWH to the householders.•No maintenance led to abandonment by many or water leaking increasing utility bills.