Following meetings of key heat pump industry stakeholders hosted by the Sustainable Energy Society of Southern Africa (SESSA) in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban during June, SESSA has been given the mandate to establish a national heat pump division.
A non-profit organisation dedicated to the creation and continued growth of renewable energy and energy efficiency, SESSA already represents more than 500 members through its solar water heating division and an additional 120 through its solar photovoltaic division. Other SESSA initiatives include opportunity builders like Young SESSA, solar cooking and Sunpower for Life.
Establishing a heat pump division will create a voice for the industry and facilitate the expansion of more energy-efficient technology as well as supporting SESSA’s endeavours to create a low carbon society.
Membership of SESSA’s heat pump division will be open to any entity selling, installing or maintaining heat pump technologies, regardless of size or geographical representation, as well as those involved in providing services, such as finance, to the heat pump industry.Commenting on the establishment of the new division, SESSA ambassador, Irvan Damon, said, “SESSA sees the heat pump industry playing an important role as South Africa moves towards the increasing use of sustainable energy resources and a new clean energy era. The industry provides both domestic and commercial users with essential technology.”
According to Damon, the heat pump division will elect its own executive committee – to be announced soon – and will be responsible for the management of the division, supported by the national SESSA office. The chairman of the division will sit on the SESSA Council to provide monthly feedback on the division’s progress.
One of SESSA’s first tasks on behalf of its new members will be to engage with Eskom on how best to ensure the success of the heat pump rebate programme. Given its experience in rolling out the solar water heating programme, SESSA’s lessons and opportunities will be shared with Eskom and the newly established heat pump division to overcome any barriers.
In addition SESSA will deal with educating end-users on heat pump technology, promoting uptake of the technology, setting and enforcing standards, managing supplier-end user disputes, and informing the sector about policy developments.
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