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The impact of residential rooftop PV on low-income electricity consumers in Stellenbosch Municipality
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613816071651328 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Korsten, Nikkie |
| author2 | De Wit, Martin |
| author_browse | De Wit, Martin Korsten, Nikkie |
| author_facet | De Wit, Martin Korsten, Nikkie |
| author_sort | Korsten, Nikkie |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134664 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:42:07.859Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134664 The impact of residential rooftop PV on low-income electricity consumers in Stellenbosch Municipality Korsten, Nikkie De Wit, Martin Brent, Alan Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. Solar energy -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) Photovoltaic power systems -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) Electric power systems -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) Distributed generation of electric power -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) Energy consumption -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) Energy conservation -- Government policy -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) UCTD Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Korsten, N. 2025. The impact of residential rooftop PV on low-income electricity consumers in Stellenbosch Municipality. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/36aebb08-6f4b-4b95-97d8-c44e1dfbc343 ENGLISH SUMMARY: The rise in residential solar rooftop photovoltaic (PV) installations has been proclaimed globally as a step towards decentralized, green energy systems. However, this transition presents significant socio-economic challenges, particularly in developing contexts like South Africa, where socio-economic inequalities are pronounced. This dissertation examines the impact of household rooftop PV installations on low-income electricity consumers within Stellenbosch Municipality, using a mixed-methods approach that integrates data analytics, system dynamics, and energy justice frameworks. The research highlights that, while solar PV adoption offers financial benefits and energy self-sufficiency for higher-income households, it exacerbates inequalities within the local energy system. Wealthier households, who are the primary adopters of rooftop PV, effectively reduce their reliance on municipal electricity, thereby decreasing the municipality's revenue from high-consumption users. This undermines cross-subsidization mechanisms that lower the cost of electricity for low-income households, pushing municipalities into a financial dilemma as they are mandated to maintain the infrastructure and ensure equitable electricity access. By mapping the system dynamics through causal loop diagrams and exploring energy justice principles, this study shows the unintended equity consequences of solar PV adoption, particularly in a context of high socio-economic inequality. The research provides evidence for the need for local governance and regulatory reforms to balance the environmental goals of renewable energy adoption with the social objectives of equitable electricity access. Insights from this study contribute to global discussions on energy democracy, justice, and the governance of local renewable energy transitions in developing countries. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar. Doctoral 2025-12-22T12:32:36Z 2025-12-22T12:32:36Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134664 en Stellenbosch University xv, [245] pages : illustrations, maps, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Solar energy -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) Photovoltaic power systems -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) Electric power systems -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) Distributed generation of electric power -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) Energy consumption -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) Energy conservation -- Government policy -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) UCTD Korsten, Nikkie The impact of residential rooftop PV on low-income electricity consumers in Stellenbosch Municipality |
| title | The impact of residential rooftop PV on low-income electricity consumers in Stellenbosch Municipality |
| title_full | The impact of residential rooftop PV on low-income electricity consumers in Stellenbosch Municipality |
| title_fullStr | The impact of residential rooftop PV on low-income electricity consumers in Stellenbosch Municipality |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of residential rooftop PV on low-income electricity consumers in Stellenbosch Municipality |
| title_short | The impact of residential rooftop PV on low-income electricity consumers in Stellenbosch Municipality |
| title_sort | impact of residential rooftop pv on low income electricity consumers in stellenbosch municipality |
| topic | Solar energy -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) Photovoltaic power systems -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) Electric power systems -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) Distributed generation of electric power -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) Energy consumption -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) Energy conservation -- Government policy -- Stellenbosch (South Africa) UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134664 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT korstennikkie theimpactofresidentialrooftoppvonlowincomeelectricityconsumersinstellenboschmunicipality AT korstennikkie impactofresidentialrooftoppvonlowincomeelectricityconsumersinstellenboschmunicipality |