South+African+Charcoal

= = =__Problem Statement: __= South Africa is facing many ecological issues as a result of their use of trees. We will be focusing on one issue that would help slow their destruction of their forests, alternative energy use. A large amount of South Africa uses charcoal as a source of energy and heat. This charcoal is typically made from hardwoods harvested in the country. And while there is another, more abundant way to produce their charcoal, South Africa is instead heading toward renewable energy.  __ **South African Demographics ** __

__Race and Ethnicity: __
Black African 80.2% White 8.4% Mixed Race 8.8% Indian/Asian 2.5%

__Age Structure: __
0-14 years: 28.34% (male 7,718,511/female 7,667,830) 15-24 years: 18.07% (male 4,865,807/female 4,943,707) 25-54 years: 41.44% (male 11,372,944/female 11,130,874) 55-64 years: 6.59% (male 1,662,874/female 1,915,908) 65 years and over: 5.57% (male 1,269,551/female 1,752,698) (2016 est.)

Total Fertility Rate: 2.31 Children/Woman
= = =__South African Energy:__=

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Electricity Production: __
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">235 Billion kWh

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Electricity Consumption: __
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">212 Billion kWh

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Electricity Exports: __
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">14 Billion kWh

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Electricity Imports: __
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">11 Billion kWh

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Electricity - from nuclear fuels: __
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4.4% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: __
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Electricity - from other renewable sources: __
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">0.7% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)



__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Natural gas - production: __
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">950 million cu m (2014 est.) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">country comparison to the world: 64

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Natural gas - consumption: __
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4.75 billion cu m (2014 est.) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">country comparison to the world: 59

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Natural gas - exports: __
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">0 cu m (2013 est.) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">country comparison to the world: 94

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Natural gas - imports __
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3.8 billion cu m (2014 est.) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">country comparison to the world: 37

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Natural gas - proved reserves __
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">15.01 billion cu m (1 January 2012 es) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">country comparison to the world: 77

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: __
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">482 million Mt (2013 est.)

__**What is Charcoal and How is it Made?**__
Charcoal is a porous, black material that is burned for its heat properties. Charcoal is made through the anaerobic burning of wood remove water, methane, hydrogen and tar from the material. In South America, this is typically done using hardwood, with a devastating consequence. But a more recent production method of charcoal uses the leaves of Eucalyptus trees that are abundant there. By using the leaves that have naturally fallen, the trees are not harmed and no trees are cut down.

__**Benefits of Charcoal**__

 * 1) ====**Burns longer than wood**====
 * 2) ====**Easier to transport/easily available**====
 * 3) ====**Can be stored for long periods of time without degrading its ability to burn efficiently**====

__**Main Issues with Charcoal**__

 * 1) ====**Deforestation**====
 * 2) Areas that have been deforested (as opposed to degraded) cannot regenerate themselves- the ecology of the area is irreparably damaged.
 * 3) It's estimated that parts of South Africa could completely deplete their forests by 2020
 * 4) ====**Respiratory Diseases**====
 * 5) WHO estimates that smoke pollution kills up to 4.3 million people each year.

__**Renewable Alternatives to Charcoal**__

 * ===Wind Power===
 * The Cookhouse Wind Farm in South Africa is currently the largest energy producing wind farm in Africa. It generates about 138MW of clean power from 11 wind turbines
 * Economic benefit: wind energy costs about 1/2 as much as new coal projects (~$0.05/kWh)


 * ===Solar Power===
 * De Aar, South Africa houses the largest solar farm in the entire southern hemisphere
 * it is a 175 Megawatt facility that spreads over 400 hectares
 * Costs 40% less than coal

__**Calculation:**__

__g CO__ __2__ __emitted by Charcoal__ 110 gCO 2 /MJ * 3.6 MJ/kWh = 396 gCO 2 /kWh = .396 kgCO 2 * 212 Billion kWh consumed = 8.4x10 10 kgCO 2 emitted __g CO__ __2__ __emitted by a more efficient source (natural gas)__ 51 gCO 2 * 3.6 MJ/kWh = 183.6 gCO 2 /kWh = .1836 kgCO 2 * 212 Billion kWh consumed = 3.89x10 10 kgCO 2 emitted (almost ½ theCO 2 emissions of charcoal! )

__Conclusion__
While curbing the use of charcoal would greatly help stop some of the negative effects occurring in South Africa, it is not necessarily the final solution, as it will negatively impact the economy. South Africa must continue to transition toward making progress in the direction of renewable energies. The two of these solutions used together would produce the best, most effective way to move South Africa to using better energy alternatives and to a cleaner future.

=__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Team Member Biographies: __=

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kyle Denis
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5th year architecture major from coastal Los Angeles. Wide array of interests including hockey, football, rock climbing, camping (and all around adventuring), design, video games, and computer tinkering. Looking forward to working in a design field anywhere from architecture to visual effects.

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lily Marks
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4th year Business Administration major with a concentration in accounting from San Francisco. Interests include hiking, tennis, and basically any other outdoor activities. Excited to learn more about making a positive impact on the environment.

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Kyle Mather
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2nd year Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies major concentrating in Political Science and Civil Engineering with a minor in Psychology. I am from San Diego, California and I've traveled to 10 countries in the last two years. I really like RnB. I am kind of mad about the Chargers leaving San Diego, but also kind of happy because they always find a way to lose. Looking forward to March Madness and Spring Quarter.

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sarah Miller
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3rd year: Business Administration. Just a transfer student from the east bay. Really enjoys drawing and learning more about life. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Will be working towards making a positive impact on the community/environment



<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Grant Sokolowski
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1st year Business Administration major from San Diego. interested in the environment and renewable energy resources.

=__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Soures: __= <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The World Factbook Unpacking the Evidence on Firewood and Charcoal inAfrica Charcoal: A Boom for Africa That May Be Killing It


 * It seems that half the renewable electricity is from nuclear, which is about 5% of their electricity, so 90% of their electricity is from fossil fuels? What's the mix of coal / NG? **


 * So, please elaborate on your solutions. What is this Eucalyptus leaf burning charcoal like? How do you do it? How do you make the briquettes? Is it like what Amy Smith started doing in Haiti with the MIT team? **