Green link from Lesbos to Paarl

A GREEN thread connects a Syrian refugee camp on a Greek island and a posh golfing estate near Paarl.

Residents of both are using technology that combines renewable energy, the grid and a back-up generator in one unit.

Behind the idea is South African businessman Miles Oates, who travelled with humanitarian group Movement on the Ground to Lesbos, where he saw men, women and children reach the shore after fleeing the war in Syria.

Last week, with funding from the group, the Power Up system was installed in the camp.

“Lighting in tents is crucial, as is [charging] cellphones. For most refugees, their phone is the only link to loved ones still on the road or even left behind,” said Oates.

“Our system was the most suitable because it is movable, unlike a massive solar plant.” As the camp grows or shrinks, the renewable power unit can be adapted.

Thousands of kilometres away, near Paarl, families have had the units installed in their luxury homes. Residents “feel good knowing they are green, but they also save money each month and are no longer reliant on Eskom”, said Oates.

The unit searches for solar, wind or hydro power, and turns to the grid or the generator if those cannot be found. INNOVATOR: Miles Oates

Soon, an entire new complex, Acorn Creek in Somerset West, will have the system fitted in all 480 residences.

In Nigeria, the government is using it for mobile clinics and libraries, and in many countries small and medium businesses can get returns of 30% on their investment in it.

However, it will take a long time for such technology, which starts at R70 000 but saves up to half of monthly power bills, to be available to most South Africans.

Jean Mulopo, an energy expert at the University of the Witwatersrand, said few companies were producing the technology.

“Also, renewable energy doesn’t work full-time. Solar, for example, only works when the sun is shining. People then have to rely on back-up traditional systems, which means now they have to maintain both systems.”

The missing link was storage of the energy and this would “take a lot more research”.