Solar Energy Technologies – GHG Abatement Costs and Potentials for Gauteng, South Africa

Abstract

This study presents an analysis of different technology measures for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in different energy sectors (i.e., electricity generation, residential appliances, transport) of a metropolitan region, using the example of Gauteng, South Africa. This analysis serves to identify measures with a high reduction potential and low abatement costs and compare them with other promising renewable energy technologies. The study takes the urban region of Gauteng, South Africa, the most densely urbanised area in South Africa, as a regional example. The resulting ‘marginal abatement cost curve (MACC)’ – also known as ‘greenhouse gas mitigation cost and potential curve’ – can be used for any given energy system to rank and prioritise measures and technology implementations according to their economic and environmental impacts for greenhouse gas mitigation. This work does not only serve the urban region of Gauteng, but can also be transferred to any other city or region, as they are confronted with similar questions to identify the highest reduction potentials and the most efficient reduction measures for mitigating CO2 emissions in different sectors as efficiently as possible. Nevertheless, the potentials, costs, and emission profiles have to be thoroughly assessed for each individual technology separately.