Three European companies join renewable organisation RES4Africa

Three Europe-based companies have joined renewable energy industry organisation Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa Foundation (RES4Africa). The companies are renewable energy company EDP Renewables; energy management and automation company Schneider Electric; and wind energy company Vestas
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SAPVIA welcomes solar in emergency power procurement programme

Solar industry organisation the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) says it welcomes the inclusion of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects among preferred bidders for the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP) announced by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe on March 18. “With technological advancement, the reduced costs, the scalability and rapid build times of projects, solar PV should remain a key technology choice in meeting the country’s capacity requirements,” says SAPVIA COO Niveshen Govender on March 19.
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Renewables announcement provides certainty, but urgency still needed, says Maynier

Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities David Maynier has welcomed the announcement by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, on March 18, of the preferred bidders for the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme and the release of the request for proposals for Bid Window 5 (BW 5) of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). Maynier also noted the announcement that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy is reviewing the licensing threshold for increased embedded self-generation.
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DMRE to host bidders conference in April as it restarts renewables procurement

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) intends convening a virtual bidders conference in April to provide information on the qualifying criteria and bid submission expectations for the fifth bid window (BW5) of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). The department formally launched the request for proposals (RFP) for BW5 after midnight on March 19, ending a near seven year interruption in the procurement of new wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity.
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Eskom: Load shedding halted from noon on Friday

Load shedding will be cancelled, for now, from noon on Friday as generation units return to service, Eskom has said in a statement.  Earlier in the week, generation capacity had been lost at Medupi, Arnot, Duvha and Kendal power stations. The shortfall was partly attributed to boiler tube leaks, units tripping as well as an increase in demand, Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said.
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128 MW Karoo hybrid project to blend wind, sun and batteries to provide dispatchable power

The lead sponsor of a 128 MW hybrid facility named as a preferred bidder under South Africa’s Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP) reports that the project is pioneering globally in the way it will use co-located wind turbines, solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays, lithium-ion batteries and a hybrid controller that orchestrates all three technologies to provide dispatchable renewable energy to the grid as and when needed. The Oya Energy Hybrid Facility was named by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe this week as one of eight preferred bidders selected under the RMIPPPP, through which government sought to procure 2 000 MW of ‘emergency power’ to be connected to the grid from August 2022.
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Fossil fuels found accountable for millions of deaths

Fossil fuels are, through a marked contribution to air pollution, accountable for 8.7-million deaths globally in 2018, which adds to the mounting evidence that air pollution from ongoing dependence on fossil fuels is detrimental to global health, says University College London (UCL) associate professor and co-author of a recent scientific study published in the Environmental Research journal Eloise Marais. She adds that the world cannot, in good conscience, continue to rely on fossil fuels, when it is known that there are such severe effects on health. Instead, more viable and cleaner alternatives should be considered.
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Research shows promise in decarbonisation drive

The research of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) into accelerated decarbonisation scenarios for the South African power system confirms considerable opportunity to accelerate decarbonisation at low or zero net cost, says CSIR electrochemical energy technologies research group lead Mmalewane Modibedi. This can be achieved by leveraging the country’s considerable land mass, solar and wind resources, coupled with energy storage, as well as flexible demand and supply, as portrayed in the CSIR’s research development and innovation plan.
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Sustainability leader ramps up ESG strategy

Energy management and automation company Schneider Electric has begun to implement its new Schneider Sustainability Impact (SSI) programme for 2021 to 2025, in the hopes of significantly accelerating its progress to being a more sustainable company.   The programme is built on six long-term commitments, which are set to deliver on each of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
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Biogas holds great power generation potential

South Africa has the potential to generate upwards of 10 000 MW of power if it were to harness and capitalise on all biogas opportunities, however, the greatest challenge is not a lack of capacity but more the lack of market opportunity, says Southern African Biogas Industry Association (Sabia) chairperson Jason Gifford. Speaking during the Sabia webinar launch of its Biogas Market Position Paper, Gifford mentioned that the South African biogas industry is flourishing and holds vast potential for greener power generation.
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