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July 2010
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While a great many South Africans have only been able to think and talk about football over the last couple of months, the South African National Energy Research Institute (SANERI) has been hard at work preparing for a national roll out of the “Green Transport Programme” which showcases green transport technology options. Dr. Zwanani Maine, Programme Manager: Green Transport Technologies, explains that SANERI’s green transport plan, initiated last year, comprises a tri-pronged focus on both on- and off-site projects and public participation. It covers a variety of energy options including electric and gas powered vehicles as well the potential of biofuels. Suggested methods of refuelling for the different energy options is integral to the programme as is the environmental impact of each energy source. “Whilst fossil fuels have proved satisfactory to date, we must plan for alternate fuels which are required to combat a future liquid fuels shortage,” Maine comments. On the subject of biofuels, Maine says the impact of biodiesel on the environment compared to normal petroleum diesel is quite dramatic. “When using biofuel, unburned hydrocarbons emissions drop by 20-67%, carbon monoxide emissions by 12-48%, particulate matter emissions by 12-47%, and sulphate emissions by between 20-100%,” he says adding that biodiesel has the added advantage of being biodegradable. “In South Africa, transport fuels make up to 30% of energy consumption (by energy content) and 70% by value. This points to the transport sector as an important energy sector to consider for alternative sources of power,” Maine contends. “He adds that by demonstrating the use of environmentally friendly transport fuels, South Africa could add impetus to global efforts to decouple the environmental impacts of transport from economic growth.” |
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