International Atomic Energy Agency announces hybrid nuclear-renewable energy research

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has issued a call for research proposals, into hybrid nuclear and renewable energy systems. This call falls under the IAEA’s Coordinated Research Project (CRP). “Nuclear and renewables are the two principal options for low [carbon] emission energy generation,” points out the call document, which is entitled ‘Technical Evaluation  and Optimisation of Nuclear-Renewable Hybrid Energy Systems’. “However, synergies among these resources have yet to be fully exploited, and advantages of directly integrating these generation options are only now being explored for both the [electricity] grid and to provide energy for other commodity products.”
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EIUG rejects ‘arbitrary licensing threshold’ as 10 MW versus 50 MW debate rages

Large electricity consumers have again called for proposed amendments to Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act, which governs the registration and licensing of distributed-generation plants, to be “meaningful” in a context where load-shedding cost the economy up to R160-billion in 2020 alone. Besides a submission by Business Unity South Africa (Busa) on the draft amendment, which was published for public comment on April 23, it has been confirmed that the Energy Intensive Users Group of Southern Africa (EIUG), the Minerals Council South Africa and the Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of South Africa (Aspasa) have all made separate submissions ahead of the June 4 closing date.
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Solar power’s decade of falling costs is thrown into reverse

A key selling point that made solar energy the fastest-growing power source in the world – rapidly decreasing costs – has hit a speed bump. Solar module prices have risen 18% since the start of the year after falling by 90% over the previous decade. The reversal, fueled by a quadrupling in the cost of the key raw material polysilicon, threatens to delay projects and slow uptake of solar power just as several major governments are finally throwing their weight behind it in an effort to slow climate change.
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Critical structural reforms taking too long – BLSA

The structural reform required to transform South Africa’s economy has “frustratingly” progressed very little, even with the establishment of Operation Vulindlela, Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso asserts.

She says organised business has consistently argued that South Africa’s economy needs structural reforms – changing the fundamental capacity of the economy through policy – if it is to grow.

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