The possibility to utilise water from the Debegeni Waterfalls for a hydro-power plant as an energy source for Tzaneen seems to be a new option according to experts.
An Environment Impact Study (EIS) was published in The Letaba Herald last year in April.
Since no objection was received from community members, readers or relevant tourism stakeholders the hydro-power unit’s construction seems to be a reality soon. This will however implicate that the Debegeni Waterfalls will no longer be accessible to the residents as the water supply would be completely cut off.
Read: Tzaneen: Water cuts a shambles
According to Hydronowenergy.org this hydro-power system would be one of the first and largest contributors of renewable energy sources in Limpopo.
Further growth of this mature technology may be possible, though many other towns in South Africa with waterfalls are also on the cards to develop these cost-effective sites.
‘This modern hydro plant will produce electricity using turbines and generators, where mechanical energy is created when the waterfall will spin rotors on a turbine,’ Herald was told.
The turbine would be connected to an electromagnetic generator, which produces electricity when the turbine spins.
This may seem as a drastic implementation, but with the recent load shedding nightmare, it would seem like one of the best alternatives for dark days lying ahead.
Construction is set to start as soon as April 1 next year.
