Industry and finance study for the solar water heating market

Client: InWent

Area: Western Cape, South Africa

Timeline: January 2005 – February 2006

Details: OneWorld recently completed a market analysis of the Solar Water Heating (SWH) industry in the Western Cape.

The work encompassed:

  • The establishment of a SWH working group with key stakeholder inclusion
  • Devising a communication strategy and plan for the awareness and education of the broader public.
  • Conducting a market survey of 200 owners of installed systems to establish technical and support issues, public perception and financial issues.
  • Analysis of the City of Cape Town Energy targets and the South African Parliament White Paper on renewable energy with regard to the impact of installed capacity by 2010; as well as assessing the current manufacturing facility in terms of delivery capacity.
  • Analysis of both upstream and downstream SME opportunities as well as job creation projections.
  • Stimulating SME development in the industry and relevant communities and environs
  • The assessment of appropriate finance mechanisms and creation of an incentive scheme
  • Designing financing schemes in conjunction with the commercial and development financial services sector
  • Building the capacity in local communities on RE in general as well as installation and maintenance of SWH systems.
  • Identifying and suggesting methods to overcome barriers in order to consolidate a sustainable SWH industry in the region.