Industries have committed to counterbalancing the impact of their industrial emissions by reducing air pollution in poorer areas via air quality offset programmes, according to SRK Consulting South Africa.

“Low-income communities located around large industries in the Highveld and the Vaal Triangle are currently the main focus of these programmes, as they have been severely affected by air pollution,” says Vis Reddy, chairman and principal environmental geochemist at SRK Consulting.

Reddy explained that this was due to a long legacy of reliance on fossil fuels in these communities, combined with pollution from ageing industries that were unable to comply with the Section 23 Minimum Emission Standards (MES) that were promulgated under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004 (NEM:AQA).

Some companies have received an extension of the timeframe for certain plants to comply with the Minimum Emission Standards (MES) for specific emissions per activity. “However, this is contingent on them submitting a plan detailing how they will achieve compliance in the future. Additionally, the operators of such activities must prepare and submit a mitigation strategy to compensate for the relaxation of compliance with the MES. One available option is the implementation of interventions through air quality offsets,” says Reddy.

Cleaner air in low-income areas

He explains that research is underway into various ways of offsetting their emissions by improving air quality in poor communities, as prescribed by the Air Quality Offsets Guideline under section 24J(a) of NEMA.

“The focus is on replacing traditional fuel sources used in these areas with cleaner fuels and energy sources, while also implementing measures that will reduce fuel and energy consumption, especially in the cold winter months. During this period, communities use more coal to heat poorly insulated houses, resulting in a marked increase in air pollution.”

Considering the role that solar energy can play in addressing energy poverty in poorer communities in South Africa and other countries on the continent, it also presents a promising solution for air quality offset programmes.

“Solar micro-grids, for example, are especially suited to small remote communities and can supply a larger number of users, including schools and small businesses. They can also be easily incorporated into reconstruction and development programme (RDP) housing designs to power entire households,” Reddy adds.

With their potential to power direct current lights, radios and small televisions for about five hours a day, solar home systems are also ideally suited to low-income areas, especially communities without access to any municipal electricity supply.

He emphasises that air quality offset projects also uplift communities by creating skills development and employment opportunities in communities.

“Solar ‘agrivoltaic’ farming projects, for example, have the potential to generate clean energy and produce food for communities, while also creating upskilling and employment opportunities in both renewable energy generation and agriculture,” says Reddy.

“Even standalone small wind farms or hybrid systems that incorporate small wind turbines need to be operated and maintained correctly by trained technicians, so training for local communities is essential.”

Integrated waste management (IWM) programmes and air quality offsets are also complementary, considering their shared objective of protecting the environment. He elaborated that while air quality offsets aimed to balance the adverse effects of air pollution, IWM managed waste at source.

Reddy elaborates, “Moreover, many of these projects also create opportunities for communities to earn revenues by converting waste into saleable products. A sound example is the production of a fertiliser from biogas slurry, which is a byproduct of converting animal waste to biogas, another potential alternative fuel.”

He adds that municipal solid waste incineration, landfill gas capture and gasification also provide skills development and training opportunities, in addition to their ability to produce cleaner fuels for communities. They are also, therefore, being evaluated for possible inclusion in air quality offset programmes.

These interventions can also be complemented by waste recycling projects, such as the community composting centres that have been established in Tshwane, Johannesburg and Durban. “Residents dispose of their waste at these facilities, where it is composted and resold to households for gardening, generating revenue for local small businesses.”Small businesses could also be developed around waste recycling facilities in communities.

These operations reduce waste pollution by diverting waste to landfills, which, in themselves, release harmful emissions into the air.

He notes that RDP houses were notoriously energy inefficient due to their low-quality materials, so house design was another critical aspect of air quality offset programmes. “Roof and wall insulation, smaller windows, and room partitioning will reduce heating requirements. Equipped with basic solar systems and water heaters, energy-efficient lighting, these interventions could have an impact on household air pollution.”

Ensuring community buy-in

However, Reddy adds that to ensure wide uptake in communities, alternative fuels and energy sources have to be made more affordable, as coal and wood are more cost-effective and readily available than gas and municipal electricity.

“It is unlikely that these communities will be able to easily afford the high capital outlay required for renewable systems or to insulate their houses unless they can borrow at lower interest rates, of about 10% as opposed to 30%, for example,” says Reddy.

Furthermore, alternative fuel and energy sources must be as easily accessible as coal and biomass. He noted that community members can buy coal from nearby small businesses in their communities, so they could make their purchases as and when needed.

Another potential obstacle is the extensive work involved in implementing these projects, such as insulating or upgrading homes so that they can accommodate other forms of space heating. He said that communities may find it more convenient to simply continue using energy sources that have proved to be effective over time, even if they contribute to high levels of air pollution.

Sound community-level emissions monitoring

Reddy emphasises that the success of air quality offset programmes relies on sound community-level emissions monitoring, which was not without challenges. The greatest obstacle is the high cost involved, as air monitoring equipment is expensive and, if large areas need to be monitored, more monitoring stations will also be required.

“There are also practical and logistical challenges to consider, including the need for security to safeguard monitoring equipment against theft and vandalism,” he says.

Timeous maintenance and repair of monitoring stations in remote communities may not always be possible, potentially interrupting data collection of large areas. Despite all these challenges, Reddy is confident that the achievement of clean air in poorer communities far outweighs the complexities involved in implementing these projects.

“Many people underestimate what a privilege it is to breathe in clean air, which reduces their chances of getting sick, as well as developing lung diseases and cancer.”