Parallax has been involved in several long-term projects to date. The first of these, "Switch On", commenced in 2002. This involved creating a rural business to provide affordable and accessible energy systems to a remote community in South Africa. The project was concluded in 2004 with the establishment of a Section 21 community business, Switch On Energy Services, which continues to service the local community today. The future operation of SOES will be expanded with support from the Small Grants Programme of the Global Environment Facility (GEF-SGP). This will be aligned with the APPLES project (see below) to maximise the local benefit from Parallax's work.
In 2004, Parallax was funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office to work with EcoSecurities, the world's leading broker of carbon credits, to establish a national PACE Centre for small scale CDM projects in Southern Africa. This Centre, based on Promoting Access to Carbon Equity, was launched in November 2005. Through its Global Opportuntiies Fund, the UK Government continued to support Parallax directly for the operation of the PACE Centre. The DME of South Africa has also endorsed the operation of PACE. From March 2007, the new PACE Centre will be self-sustainable, operating without any external subsidy. It will continue to consider the whole range of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that can benefit from credible carbon savings.
From Jan 2005, Parallax was appointed by the United National Development Programme to work with the South African Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) to develop a business plan for the national roll-out of Integrated Energy Centres. These IeCs aim to provide accessible and affordable energy solutions for people in poor communities. The plan was finalised in 2006 and continues to be the basis for Integrated Energy Centres in South Africa today.
From 2005-6, Parallax was requested by the Project Preparation Trust of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa (PPT) to manage the implementation of a "climate change and energy" housing intervention. This was a project to demonstrate appropriate energy-saving technologies in low-income households, which help to mitigate climate change. This project formed part of a development programme which was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and managed by PPT. A range of energy sources were presented to poor communities in rural and peri-urban areas, and supplied with appropriate financing mechanisms to interested households. Local businesses were expanded, creating local hob opportunities, to provide the necessary energy services, cash-collection and maintenance.
The APPLES Project, in which Parallax leads the activity in rural areas, is financially supported by the European Commission as well as DME and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in South Africa. After a delayed start, the project recommenced in February 2007 and will examine alternative models for energy centres. This is expected to report back in July 2008, in time for DME to roll-out the new models if successful.
Another focus area for Parallax is monitoring & evaluation of development activities that involve renewable energy, energy efficiency and/or climate change issues. Parallax is currently engaged by the Oak Foundation in both New Jersey (US) and Geneva (Switzerland) on multi-annual contracts to advise and monitor the operations of E+Co Africa and of The Climate Group.
Prior to the formation of Parallax in 2001, the Parallax directors were involved in a range of other projects that have developed experience now used in Parallax operations. Such projects include: