SA traffic lights to go solar
The Central Energy Fund (CEF) has announced a massive drive to install solar-powered traffic lights at critical intersections in South Africa's major cities to combat traffic congestion caused by power cuts.
"This is an urgent intervention to help alleviate the chaos on our roads which results from power outages and which is impacting negatively on the economy of our country," CEF chief executive Mputumi Damane said in a statement on Tuesday.
The state agency has identified more than 2 000 critical traffic intersections in Johannesburg - key areas include the busy intersection of Grayston and Rivonia in Sandton, which has been hard hit by the recent spate of power outages.
According to the CEF, even though certain components have to be imported and intersections still have to be individually assessed, the installation process is expected to begin in the next few weeks
Other major centres earmarked for solar traffic lights are eThekwini (greater Durban), Tshwane (greater Pretoria), Port Elizabeth and Nelspruit.
Over the past few days, public and private sector stakeholders have in principle committed some R40-million toward the project.
"These are challenging times for all role-players in the energy sector, and we at CEF have been uplifted by the support of government, business and the general public for this intervention," Damane said.
"The funds available for this project could rise to more than R100-million because of this incredible upsurge of support. Pledges of major funding are flowing in and a number of agreements are being finalized with key private sector institutions who we will name in due course and once the formalities have been concluded."
The project will be managed by the National Energy Efficiency Agency (NEEA), a division of the CEF, and will draw on a highly successful three-month pilot scheme in Montagu's Gift, Cape Town.
"Right now, commuters are at breaking point," said NEEA acting operations manager Barry Bredenkamp. "Retrofitting robots to run on solar power is probably the best solution we have to solving the current traffic crisis.
"The test site confirmed that the technology is capable of running the lights on sun power and, crucially, without mishap."
Bredenkamp said the project was about alleviating the energy crisis in a broader context, as traffic congestion also wastes petrol and diesel.
"Quantified in monetary terms, productivity losses, accidents at uncontrolled intersections, and exhaust emissions from stationary motor vehicles all have an adverse effect on the economy," Bredenkamp said.
Companies wishing to become involved in the project should e-mail their details to info@savingenergy.co.za, and they will be contacted by the NEEA.
SAinfo reporter
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