Thought Leadership
Is Renewable Energy Bankable? BANKS RESPOND
Very few renewable energy solutions, in South Africa, have been bankable until the Department of Energy, in South Africa, made a deliberate effort to open the procurement process of renewable IPPs with a non-predetermined tariff. This opened a completely new chapter on the supply side of the power equation. Many a financial institution, and in particular the big four in South Africa, are investing heavily in the South African renewable energy space.
Renewable energy was always bankable in a majority of the first world countries because of the off-take tariff regimes in these countries. read more
How we are using smart metering systems to ENHANCE & PROTECT REVENUES
Managing revenues for the utility (as well as the municipal sector) is of importance especially in developing markets. On the one hand, as the cost of energy is rising daily, consumers look for new ways of cutting back on costs.These customers on the other hand, want to ensure that all users of electricity pay for their consumption. The smart metering technology therefore, in managing the revenue for the customer, also helps the consumer to track his consumption, whilst at the same time, the customer is in a position to record accurately what is consumed and gets the revenue of the exact amount of energy used.
A financial and functional case for a smart water meter
Smart water meters have functional and financial benefits. The meters operate in a similar manner as smart electricity meters and both the consumer and the utility or bulk water supplier stand to derive financial value with the installation of smart water meters. Let me backtrack a bit here and provide some background on the subject. Indulge me for a moment.
According to the website www.pikeresearch.com, the smart water meter market is poised for steady growth in the coming 5 years, driven by increasing demand for water itself, ageing system infrastructure, and a need among utilities to operate their systems much more efficiently. Some systems were built 50 to 100 years ago and badly need upgrading. As new pipes are constructed, utility operators will simultaneously evaluate the merits of upgrading to the latest meter technology as well.