VOA慢速英语2015 电力短缺倒逼对再生能源的兴趣

Power Outages Renew Interest in Renewable Energy 电力短缺倒逼对再生能源的兴趣

South Africa’s state power company, Eskom, is struggling to meet demand for electricity in the country. The company has put in place an aggressive plan for limiting the amount of electricity it supplies to prevent a collapse¹ of the electrical system.

However, the unpredictability of the system is causing some South Africans to become self-sufficient. These people have begun producing energy in their own homes. Many are choosing renewable forms of energy.

The South African state power company Eskom has a big problem. The company provides about 95% of South Africa’s electricity. But Eskom officials have said there is a strong probability of controlled power cuts almost every day for the next few months. They say the company may have to do this to avoid a total collapse of the system, known as an electrical grid².

Observers say a number of problems are partly to blame. They include a failure to make much-needed repairs, a lack of investment and non-cost reflective tariffs³, or taxes. The company has added seven million people to the electrical grid since 1994. Delays in building new power centers have meant that Eskom has overextended the operation of 27 old power plants.

Some South Africans are considering other power sources to reduce their dependence⁴ on the electrical grid. Currently, renewable energy provides only about two percent of the country’s power requirements. South Africa needs about 30,000 megawatts of electricity every day.

Engineer Greg Ball lives in Johannesburg. He depends on Eskom to provide five percent of the power his family uses. Solar energy meets the rest of their demand for surplus electricity used to power two electric cars. He says it is good for the environment.

“You have to start developing an environmental conscience…I don’t want to be somebody who goes through their whole career and doing the same old, same old and dumping all these problems and issues onto my kids. If we can make just a very small difference individually, collectively it can be significant.”

Some people say that taking oneself off the grid is only for people who can pay for it. Greg Ball spent over $30,000 placing solar technology equipment on his home. He says the technology has paid for itself. He says he saves about $7,500 in fuel every year.

Starting costs are high. Yet, several solar companies in Johannesburg told VOA that recent power outages have helped create a notable increase in interest.

Ryan Beech⁵ is part of a Go Green Project for Parkhurst, a wealthy area in Johannesburg. The project aims to take 2,000 houses off the electrical grid and have them using renewable energy by 2020.

He says, “We are currently looking at all the technology out there from hydro to solar, (and) wind.”

That would hurt local utility companies. Local governments earn about $2 billion a year from water and electricity. There is likely to be resistance to losing 2,000 customers who pay some of the highest rates in the country.

Energy experts say South Africa must seek cleaner energy and end its dependence on coal. South Africa is also the fourth-largest coal exporting country in the world.

Energy expert Chris Yelland argues the government should be looking at more environmentally-friendly energy choices.  He says, “There are a lot of good reasons why we should diversify⁶ away from coal and also a lot of good reasons, in my opinion, to diversify away from a single monopoly electricity supplier.”

Eskom’s financial problems could mean higher fees for customers in the future. That could cause more people will turn to renewable energy.

Words in This Story

plants - n., the land, buildings, machinery⁷, apparatus⁸, and fixtures⁹ employed in carrying on a trade or an industrial business

self-sufficient - adj., able to maintain oneself or itself without outside aid; capable of providing for one's own needs

customers - n., one that buys a product or service

1 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

2 grid   

n.高压输电线路网；地图坐标方格；格栅

参考例句：

• In this application,the carrier is used to encapsulate the grid.在这种情况下，要用载体把格栅密封起来。
• Modern gauges consist of metal foil in the form of a grid.现代应变仪则由网格形式的金属片组成。

3 tariffs   

关税制度； 关税( tariff的名词复数 )； 关税表； （旅馆或饭店等的）收费表； 量刑标准

参考例句：

• British industry was sheltered from foreign competition by protective tariffs. 保护性关税使英国工业免受国际竞争影响。
• The new tariffs have put a stranglehold on trade. 新的关税制对开展贸易极为不利。

4 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

5 beech   

n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的

参考例句：

• Autumn is the time to see the beech woods in all their glory.秋天是观赏山毛榉林的最佳时期。
• Exasperated,he leaped the stream,and strode towards beech clump.他满腔恼怒，跳过小河，大踏步向毛榉林子走去。

6 diversify   

v.（使）不同，（使）变得多样化

参考例句：

• Our company is trying to diversify.我们公司正力图往多样化方面发展。
• Hills and woods diversify the landscape.山陵和树木点缀景色。

7 machinery   

n.(总称)机械，机器；机构

参考例句：

• Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？
• Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。

8 apparatus   

n.装置，器械；器具，设备

参考例句：

• The school's audio apparatus includes films and records.学校的视听设备包括放映机和录音机。
• They had a very refined apparatus.他们有一套非常精良的设备。

9 fixtures   

（房屋等的）固定装置( fixture的名词复数 )； 如（浴盆、抽水马桶）； 固定在某位置的人或物； （定期定点举行的）体育活动

参考例句：

• The insurance policy covers the building and any fixtures contained therein. 保险单为这座大楼及其中所有的设施保了险。
• The fixtures had already been sold and the sum divided. 固定设备已经卖了，钱也分了。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹