OREANDA-NEWS. Speaking at the recent stakeholder engagement workshop hosted by Anglo American Platinum Limited, Ballard and the Institute for African Alternatives, the director of the Institute for African Alternatives, Professor Ben Turok, highlighted the gap that exists in the market to power rural communities. He believes that innovative projects such as the fuel cell mini-grid system, would alleviate pressure on the national grid and can deliver social, political and economic benefits for the country.

Turok said, "The window of opportunity for fuel cells as an alternative technology for South Africa is now - grid capacity constraints, rising costs and long lead times for electrifying deep rural areas make non-grid fuel cell technology ideal. Over and above socio-economic benefits of access to power for rural upliftment, establishment of a local fuel cell industry develops new skills and creates jobs, in line with objectives of the National Development Plan."

Professor Turok further reiterated that to progress this existing opportunity for South Africa, commitment to public procurement of fuel cells for rural electrification is critical. "The fuel cell mini grid offers significant advantages in low to medium density communities between 50 and 200 homes which are more than 22km away from existing grid."

It is estimated that over 3 million households in South Africa have no access to electricity, of which over 1 million are in rural areas. Approximately 500 000 of these rural households are in remote, difficult terrain where extending existing grid transmission comes at a significant cost. Government has made great strides in connecting millions of households to the national energy grid, however the fact remains that South Africa is facing mounting pressure on the national electricity grid.

Anglo American Platinum, in partnership with Ballard Power Systems is developing a next generation fuel cell product which forms the core of a power system that is capable of supplying 230V AC electricity through a mini-grid to households. The system is suitable for charging electronic devices, TV, radio, lighting, refrigeration and cooking.

The fuel cell mini-grid technology is an economically competitive alternative to extending grid transmission lines for rural communities far away from the existing grid. The system is powered by liquid methanol fuel. Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert fuel into electricity and water, facilitated by platinum. Fuel cells have the potential to increase the demand for platinum.

The fuel cell mini-grid technology provides an opportunity to electrify rural communities at a faster pace than through the extending grid, and is expected to be cost competitive to diesel generators and PV mini grid systems for rural communities.

In August 2014, Anglo American Platinum and fuel cell manufacturer Ballard Power Systems, launched a fuel cell mini-grid field trial at the Naledi Trust Community in Kroonstad, South Africa, which continues to power up a total of 34 households through the fuel cell system.

"The development and commercialisation of platinum-based fuel cell technology is also aimed at increasing the demand for platinum mined in South Africa, ensuring sustainable markets for the country's metals," said Kleantha Pillay, Anglo American Platinum's Head of Market Development.

Pillay further added that the deployment of fuel cell systems in South Africa can contribute not only to rural development and social upliftment, but also to the creation of a local fuel cell value chain and jobs.

Access to electricity has a profoundly positive social and economic impact in rural communities in South Africa. This eliminates the need for these communities to rely on hazardous materials such as paraffin and wood for cooking and heating.

Anglo American Platinum believes that the deployment of fuel cells for rural electrification will help meet the Department of Energy's strategic objectives of promoting/enhancing universal access to energy, development and improvement of energy generation and mainstreaming, upliftment & empowerment of disadvantaged & vulnerable groups.

The next step is for the country to develop a procurement strategy and to recognise how the implementation of this technology can lead to the establishment of desired outcomes of rural electrification, manufacturing, beneficiation and job creation.