Due to the relative scarcity of surface water in South Africa, there is a prevailing misconception that the potential for hydropower development is low. However, the country’s almost 4 500 registered dams and the infrastructure that exists to convey large quantities of water for the irrigation, mining and municipal sectors have potential for hydropower development. One of the beneficiaries of such a development was the remote rural village of Kwa-Madiba in the Mhlontlo Local Municipality, north-east of Mthatha in the Eastern Cape.

According to Marco van Dijk, a researcher in the University of Pretoria’s Department of Civil Engineering, opportunities to provide accessible and economical hydropower are hidden within the existing water infrastructure. There are also several conventional opportunities, such as the newly completed hydropower installation at Thina Falls in the Eastern Cape, which supplies the Kwa-Madiba community with electricity.

The research on which this hydropower development is based was conducted by members of the Department of Civil Engineering’s Water Division, and was funded by the Department of Science and Innovation, through the Water Research Commission.

“To reach this final stage of the project’s completion was not an easy task,” says Van Dijk. “There were numerous legislative and regulatory obstacles that had to be overcome, as well as the administrative restructuring of the municipality.” Other factors that presented a challenge included the extreme remoteness of the site, and external factors such as the weather, peak flows in the river, and the availability of equipment and personnel.

A major achievement, not only for the project, but for all future small-scale run-of-river hydropower projects, was that the project team was able to successfully participate in the public consultation process to review the General Authorisation in terms of the National Water Act. With the revised publication of the General Authorisation, small-scale run-of-river hydropower projects that adhere to specific requirements now only have to comply with the conditions of the General Authorisation, and do not need to undertake a costly and lengthy full water use licencing process.

The development of the hydropower plant entailed identifying the site (with the main aim of providing electricity to a rural area), conducting hydraulic or hydrological assessments, facilitating the regulatory and permitting aspects of the project, designing the intake structure, penstock and turbine room, designing the electrical grid integration and control system, constructing the hydropower plant, providing training and conducting workshops.

The small-scale hydropower plant, designed to generate 50 kW of electricity, was presented to the Mhlontlo Municipality and the community of Kwa-Madiba on 4 October 2021. This scheme borrows a small portion of the water flowing over the Thina Falls by diverting it into a steep, narrow tunnel. The water is then returned to the main river after its power has been harnessed to spin a turbine. The renewable energy does not generate fossil fuel carbon emissions that drive global climate change. The run-of-river, modular unit provides enough electricity for approximately 50 rural households in Kwa-Madiba.

Van Dijk says that the project provided a wonderful opportunity to understand the intricacies involved in constructing a full-scale working hydropower plant. It also provided an opportunity to introduce new technology to South Africa with the potential for implementation in other water sectors.

Small hydropower schemes can play a critical role in providing energy to remote areas in South Africa as stand-alone, isolated mini grids or to alleviate the burden on municipalities by making them more sustainable. This research project outlined the possibility of using small hydropower systems in a rural setup for electrification in South Africa. This will enhance the uptake of micro-hydro technology by making local stakeholders (the private sector, the financial sector and government entities) aware of the opportunities that this technology can bring, and the coordinated efforts required to ensure the success of this technology.

The electricity generated in this way will not only improve the quality of life of this community, but also has the potential to improve aspects related to their health and food security.