【新闻趣摘】南非人民最近解锁了"晒太阳"新姿势——不是日光浴，而是用太阳能板对抗停电！81岁老奶奶靠太阳续命氧气机，小店主靠阳光拯救冰柜里的肉，这波操作让煤电公司直呼"晒不过"。最绝的是，当地企业把太阳能板设计得像手机套餐一样月付，连小偷都懒得偷——毕竟撕下来就变废塑料，堪称"史上最憋屈赃物"。（翻译腔预警：下文出现英中对照时，请自动脑补新闻联播旁白声）
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**'It's a lifesaver': Making solar power affordable in South Africa**
**"救命神器"：南非如何让太阳能走进寻常百姓家**
2 days ago Share Save Pumza Fihlani BBC News, Johannesburg Share Save
【发布于2天前】普姆扎·菲拉尼 BBC新闻 约翰内斯堡
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**Pumza Fihlani / BBC Mark Moodley (L) says that the lack of a consistent power supply endangered his mother's life**
普姆扎·菲拉尼/BBC 马克·穆德利（左）表示电力供应不稳定曾危及母亲生命
South African Mark Moodley believes that installing a domestic solar power system has helped keep his 81-year-old mother alive. She spent three weeks in intensive care last year, and now back at home in Benoni, east of Johannesburg, she needs an oxygen concentrator to help her breathe. But the country's erratic electricity supply meant could not be relied on.
南非人马克·穆德利认为，家用太阳能系统救了他81岁母亲的命。去年她曾在重症监护室度过三周，如今回到约翰内斯堡东部贝诺尼的家中，需要靠制氧机维持呼吸。但该国不稳定的电力供应让设备随时可能罢工。
"There were days we'd be without power for six hours. I had to use a car battery to run her oxygen tank, but that didn't last long and you'd have to sit with her with her arms raised to try and get oxygen into her lungs," Mr Moodley tells the BBC."Sometimes we had to rush her to hospital when that didn't work. It was scary."
"有时一天断电六小时，我不得不用车用电池驱动氧气罐，但撑不了多久，只能抬高她的手臂帮肺部获取氧气，"穆德利告诉BBC，"当这些方法失效时，我们得紧急送医。太可怕了。"
Back then, doctors told the family she might not have long to live. But a steady power supply has given them more time together."It's been a lifesaver. I don't have to check on her constantly through the night. I know her oxygen tank has power no matter what," he says, voice trembling.
当时医生曾暗示她时日无多。但稳定电力为母子赢得了更多相处时光。"这就是救命稻草。现在我不必整夜提心吊胆，无论发生什么，制氧机永远有电，"他声音颤抖着说。
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Despite recent improvements in South Africa's power grid, there are still outages. Having a steady electricity supply has become a privilege in the country, which has endured nearly 15 years of"load-shedding" - scheduled nationwide blackouts introduced to ease pressure on the fragile infrastructure.
尽管南非电网近期有所改善，停电仍时有发生。在这个承受了近15年"减载断电"（为保护脆弱基础设施实施的全国计划停电）的国家，稳定供电已成特权。
As well as endangering some lives, the crisis has damaged economic growth and contributed to job losses. South Africa is heavily reliant on highly polluting coal for its power - it accounts for around 80% of all electricity generated.
这场危机不仅威胁生命，更重创经济增长、加剧失业。南非电力严重依赖高污染煤炭，约80%发电量来自燃煤。
But in recent years it has loosened restrictions on small-scale solar generation and created tax incentives for installation. The country is also looking for more investment in renewable energy in order to aid the switch from coal.
不过近年来，政府已放宽小型太阳能发电限制，并提供安装税收优惠，同时寻求可再生能源投资以摆脱煤炭依赖。
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Domestically, those with financial means have gradually taken their homes and businesses off-grid, investing in solar power systems that require an initial outlay of $14,000- $19,600 (£10,400-£14,500).
在国内，富裕群体正逐步让住宅和商铺脱离电网，投资需1.4万至1.96万美元（1.04万至1.45万英镑）初始成本的太阳能系统。
**Pumza Fihlani / BBC Mr Moodley is hoping to go completely off-grid**
普姆扎·菲拉尼/BBC 穆德利希望完全脱离电网
That price tag means that this option is far out of the reach of most South Africans. Those scraping by cannot take advantage of the country's sunshine and invest in clean, reliable energy.
如此高价令多数南非人望而却步。挣扎求生者难以利用充足日照获取清洁可靠能源。
But Mr Moodley was able to turn to a pay-as-you-go scheme that has kept the lights on and the medical equipment working. His electricity bill has dropped by $80 a week - savings he hopes to use to expand what he has and eventually go completely off-grid.
但穆德利选择了预付费方案，既维持照明又保障医疗设备运行。现在他每周电费减少80美元，计划用这笔钱扩容系统直至完全离网。
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The system he uses comes from Wetility, a local start-up founded in 2019 For domestic users, the most basic package costs $60 a month - and crucially no prohibitive up-front payment - making solar power more accessible.
该系统来自2019年成立的本地企业Wetility。其最基础家庭套餐月费60美元，且无需高昂首付，大幅降低使用门槛。
The company says it identified a gap in the market - affordable solar solutions tailored to small businesses and low-income households.
该公司称其瞄准了市场空白——针对小微企业和低收入家庭的经济型太阳能方案。
"South Africa has traditionally had high electricity access - but access means nothing if the power isn't reliable or affordable," says Vincent Maposa, the company's founder and a former energy analyst.
"南非历来电力覆盖率很高，但若供电不可靠或价格高昂，覆盖率就毫无意义，"创始人、前能源分析师文森特·马波萨说。
"We had to develop products that are both fit-for-purpose and financially accessible."
"我们必须开发既实用又经济的产品。"
While solar power is not new in South Africa, Wetility's business model includes a mobile-phone style monthly payment plan, allowing customers to spread out the cost.
虽然太阳能在南非并非新鲜事物，但Wetility首创手机话费式月付方案，让用户分摊成本。
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**Pumza Fihlani / BBC The boxes containing the inverter and battery that are installed in homes and businesses are put together at a factory in Johannesburg**
普姆扎·菲拉尼/BBC 含逆变器和电池的供电单元正在约翰内斯堡工厂组装，这些设备将安装于家庭和商铺
For years, load-shedding has been used as a last-ditch attempt to keep the national grid from total collapse, following decades of mismanagement at state utility Eskom.
由于国有电力公司Eskom数十年管理不善，南非多年来靠"减载断电"勉强防止电网崩溃。
While blackouts have eased for some urban centres, poorer communities and business people continue to suffer forced cuts as aging infrastructure struggles to meet the growing demand.
虽然部分城市中心停电减少，但老旧基础设施难堪重负，贫困社区和小商户仍遭强制断电。
For some in the townships worries about theft and practicality have also deterred people from getting solar equipment, but Wetility has also designed lightweight, flexible panels that can be fitted on the fragile rooftops common in many of these areas.
乡镇居民常因盗窃风险和对实用性的担忧却步，为此Wetility开发出轻质柔性板，可适配这些地区脆弱的屋顶结构。
"We came up with a thin-film panel that sticks onto the roof. If someone tries to peel it off, it tears and becomes valueless. That was important for areas where theft is a concern," says Mr Maposa.
"我们研发出可直接粘贴的薄膜板，强行撕扯会使其破损报废。这对高盗窃风险地区至关重要，"马波萨解释道。
"In terms of efficiency, they perform about as well as traditional panels."
"其效能与传统光伏板相当。"
The energy unit, including an inverter, which converts the power generated by the panels into useable electricity, and a battery that works when the sun is not shining, is secured in a large steel box weighing about 300kg that bolts onto a wall.
整套能源单元（含将直流电转为交流电的逆变器及储能电池）被封装在重约300公斤的钢箱内，需螺栓固定于墙面。
The team says this reduces the risk of theft and avoids drawing attention in high-crime areas.
团队称这种设计既防盗，又避免在犯罪高发区引人注目。
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**Pumza Fihlani / BBC Julius Koobetseng's business was under threat because of the power cuts**
普姆扎·菲拉尼/BBC 朱利叶斯·库贝曾的商铺曾因断电濒临倒闭
Shopkeeper Julius Koobetseng recently made the switch to solar that may have saved his small grocery store. In a grey beanie hat and thick blue jacket to ward off the cold in the southern Hemisphere winter, he stacks cans of drink in a brightly lit fridge remembering how the frequent power cuts nearly wrecked his livelihood.
店主朱利叶斯·库贝曾近期改用太阳能，救活了他的小杂货店。南半球寒冬中，戴着灰色针织帽、裹着厚蓝夹克的他，正往明亮冰柜里码放饮料罐，回忆起频繁断电如何差点毁掉生计。
"Meat would go off, dairy would spoil. Sometimes we'd be without power for four days," the 43-year-old says.
"肉类变质、乳品腐坏，有时甚至断电四天，"这位43岁的店主说。
But since March, his shop in Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg, has been using the pay-as-you-go solar power system to keep the lights and fridges on.
但自三月起，他在约翰内斯堡西部克鲁格斯多普的店铺就靠太阳能预付费系统维持照明和冷藏。
Some small business owners have turned to back-up diesel generators but Mr Koobetseng, who has had his shop for the past 13 years, was drawn to the more environmentally friendly option.
部分商户选择柴油发电机备用，但经营店铺13年的库贝曾更青睐环保方案。
"Power cuts have badly affected small businesses. I know many in this area that had to shut down because they couldn't keep up with the uncertainty," he says.
"断电严重冲击小本经营。这带区许多店铺都因无法应对不确定性而倒闭。"
"We live month-to-month, depending on what the business brings in. If you can't guarantee power, how do you even plan for the future?"
"我们靠每月营收过活。若连供电都无法保证，谈何未来规划？"
Now he does not worry when the power goes out which has been"a huge relief".
如今停电不再令他焦虑，"如释重负"。
It costs his business $250 a month but Mr Koobetseng's business has picked up thanks to the reliable power.
虽然月增250美元成本，但稳定供电使生意好转。
"People know my shop stays open even when the power's out. Some just come to charge their appliances, but while they're here, they buy things too," he says with a smile.
"顾客知道我家永不打烊。有人专程来充电，顺带消费，"他笑着说。
For him, the benefit is not about lowering his electricity bills. It is the consistency.
对他来说，好处不在省电费，而在稳定性。
"Solar gave me back control. I can plan my day knowing I'll have power."
"太阳能让我重掌主动权。现在规划日程时，我知道电力永远在线。"
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