Exaggeration is so often used as a tool for disinformation and to instil fear, but it is fair to say that never has the need to understand how our critical resources are interlinked been so important for the current and future welfare of our planet.
There is a nexus between energy, water and the environment, and here South Africa, with its unique challenges, stands at a crossroads. The country is grappling with a complex web of energy shortfalls, water scarcity and environmental pressures. And South Africa is not alone.
In the grand tapestry of our planetary timeline, we find ourselves in what Carl Sagan once dubbed the “cosmic calendar” - a metaphor in which the universe’s 13.8 billion year history is condensed into a single year, and humanity’s entire saga unfolds in the final seconds of December 31st.
It is an awe inspiring picture, and one that makes you feel infinitesimally small and insignificant. That is, until you stop to really think about it.
In these fleeting moments of humanity’s place on the cosmic calendar, the need for a holistic approach to our energy, water and environmental challenges becomes clear. What we do now will determine whether we merely count down the last ticks of the cosmic clock or earn ourselves more pages in the universe’s story.
It is a shared challenge that requires a shared solution.
According to Prof Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), South Africa must harness the intellectual capital of its universities alongside the ingenuity of its policymakers in order for the nation to forge a path to a more resilient future, one where the cosmic calendar grants us many more chapters to write.
“The energy, water and environment nexus is particularly significant for South Africa because the country faces water scarcity issues in various regions, a strong need for reliable and sustainable energy sources, and environmental pressures ranging from climate change to biodiversity loss. Addressing one of these areas inevitably influences the others. For instance, generating electricity often requires significant water resources. Think of cooling processes in power plants. At the same time, water treatment and distribution need energy. And of course, how we handle both energy and water impacts the broader environment by either contributing to or mitigating environmental stress.”
Prof Tyobeka, a renowned nuclear energy expert, touts the implementation of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as a possible solution to the energy, water and environment challenge.
“SMRs are basically smaller, more flexible nuclear reactors that can be built in a modular fashion. They don't require the massive infrastructure of traditional large nuclear plants, and
they can be placed closer to where energy demand is or even integrated into existing grids more easily. For South Africa, SMRs could help provide a steady and relatively low water usage energy source, especially in regions where water is scarce. They also produce stable, low carbon power, which helps reduce the environmental impact of the energy sector. So, in a nutshell, SMRs could definitely be part of a broader solution to South Africa’s energy challenges and could help balance that energy water environment equation a little more smoothly. Countries such as Poland are doing this, why aren’t we?”
Prof Tyobeka points to the untapped potential of South Africa’s existing nuclear innovation, especially the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor, in addressing the full spectrum of nexus challenges.
“With SMRs, particularly high-temperature gas-cooled types such as South Africa’s own Pebble Bed Modular Reactor design, we can harness elevated outlet temperatures to help address the challenge of water scarcity through seawater desalination. The high-temperature steam produced by these reactors enables the co-generation of both electricity and fresh water, making it possible to deliver potable water from a nuclear energy source. This dual functionality directly addresses both energy and water shortages.
At the same time, these high-temperature reactors hold significant potential for the production of green hydrogen. By using the reactor’s thermal energy to drive high-temperature electrolysis — the process of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen — we can generate hydrogen without carbon emissions, thereby contributing to the environmental dimension of the energy-water-environment nexus.
Green hydrogen can serve as a clean fuel and a critical chemical feedstock to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy industry (including steel and cement production) and long-distance transport (trucks, ships, and aircraft). It also has application in power generation and as a long-duration energy storage solution, helping to stabilise grids reliant on intermittent renewables like solar and wind."
Looking at the need to delve into the vast intellectual resources of South Africa’s universities, he states that the NWU’s research entities - such as those focusing on sustainable energy, water resource management and environmental sciences - are generating the kind of data and solutions that policymakers and industries need. The NWU is also playing a significant role in training the next generation of experts such as engineers, environmental scientists and policy analysts who understand this nexus deeply.
“By incorporating these concepts into our curricula and outreach, we are helping to create a workforce that’s ready to tackle these challenges head on. We are also well positioned to engage with the public and policymakers, translating complex research into practical guidance. They can be a bridge between the academic world and the real-world applications that South Africa needs,” says Prof Tyobeka.
“We need a holistic approach to provide a holistic solution. We need to push policymakers, researchers and communities to think about integrated strategies rather than siloed fixes. This was my goal as CEO of the National Nuclear Regulator, it is my purpose as Principal and Vice Chancellor of the NWU, and it will remain my passion long after I leave.”
The key, then, to solving our nexus challenges lies in a blend of pragmatic innovation and visionary thinking. As Prof Tyobeka urged, South Africa must leverage the intellectual resources of its universities and embrace the spirit of collaboration to find balanced solutions that will stand the test of time.
“In essence, by addressing our energy, water and environmental needs holistically, we are, in a sense, buying ourselves more time on the cosmic calendar. We are ensuring that humanity’s final seconds on December 31st need not be final at all, but rather the prelude to new chapters in our shared story.”
Our ability to extend our cosmic calendar rests in our hands. It’s time to turn the page wisely.
