Christo Myburgh

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Igniting a sustainable economy: Equal participation in the energy transition


The current global energy transition is being witnessed as it radically evolves and forges ahead encountering its ongoing challenges. It’s through these challenges and obstacles, that there are lessons learnt which expedite the advancement in technology in order to promote grid stability.

This has largely been impacted by the ever-growing energy generation, along with the changes in economic-driven, consumer behaviour.

The world’s large-scale approach to mitigate global emissions by moving away from fossil fuels and subsequently transition into a low-carbon economy is placing tremendous pressure on government’s fiscus, which in turn, causes tunnel vision driven by the urgency of an ecosystem that is vastly deteriorating.

As the renewable energy generation gains momentum, it is necessary to consider additional complementary approaches to the typical solar, hydro, biomass and wind strategy at play.

Energy, water and data is a balanced, sustainable habitation on Earth and the heart of civilization.

“The world’s energy and water are inextricably linked. With demand rising for both resources and increasing challenges from climate change, water scarcity can threaten the long-term viability of energy projects and hinder development.”

- Rachel Kyte, World Bank Group Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change.

In 2019, The World Health Organization (WHO) recorded that 785 million people lack the basic need for drinking water services, including the 144 million people who are dependent on surface water.  As a result, unsafe drinking water and inadequate availability of water for hygiene and sanitation, causes an estimated 801,000 children under the age of 5, to perish each year.

Alongside these horrifying statistics, an estimated 17% of the global population (around 1.2 billion people) of which is primarily made up of Sub-Saharan African developing communities, did not have access to electricity in 2013. As the demand for the requirements rise each year, it has become increasingly necessary for organisations to realise the basic human rights of the entire global population of 7.8 billion people, to have equal opportunity and absolute equality, where all forms of classifications are eradicated. 

Accelerating ‘the reach’ of both education and healthcare, it will afford a multitude of humans the ability to contribute to the global economy through empowerment and establish localised economic activity and entrepreneurs, thus substantially benefitting societies.

As we shift to new solutions to constrain climate change, Micro Grids will complement the traditional “generation-transmission-distribution model” by reaching humanity where the traditional grid is falling short.