Fourth international WindAc Africa conference to be held in October

The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) will host the fourth international academic wind energy conference – WindAc Africa 2021 – at the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre’s conference centre, in Cape Town, from October 5 to 7. This academic exchange platform offers a special programme for high-potential young people from South African universities and the organisers are hoping to welcome 45 sponsored students at this year’s event.
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Mediclinic signs 12-year solar power purchase agreement

Private healthcare and hospital company Mediclinic on June 15 announced that it had signed a 12-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with sustainable infrastructure investment fund manager Moshesh Partners, to reduce the hospital group’s energy costs. Mediclinic, based in South Africa and Namibia, contracted Moshesh Partners to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at six of its hospitals. This will ensure the hospitals have access to affordable and clean power.
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Global stock-taking report points to only modest renewables gains in total final energy consumption

A new international stock-take of the global transition to renewable energy highlights an “alarming gap between targets and actions” with the share of fossil fuels in energy consumption failing to decrease for the tenth consecutive year in 2020, despite a 4% Covid-linked fall in demand. Published by REN21, the ‘Renewables 2021 Global Status Report’ shows that modern renewable energy (excluding the traditional use of biomass) accounted for an estimated 11.2% of total final energy consumption (TFEC), up from 8.7% a decade earlier.
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VW CEO chides G7 Leaders for failing to set coal phase-out date

Volkswagen’s CEO criticized Group of Seven (G7) leaders for failing to set a firm date to phase out coal power, saying it’s senseless to let electric vehicles run on dirty energy. “That’s not enough, @G7. Disappointing outcome,” VW CEO Herbert Diess tweeted Tuesday. “We need to exit coal much earlier! EVs are key to reach the climate goals 2030. But EVs only make sense with green energy, letting EVs run on coal is regulatory nonsense.”
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Iron-ore billionaire sets sights on reviving Congo’s hydro vision

Iron-ore magnate Andrew Forrest is looking to help revive a long-delayed multi-billion dollar hydroelectric project in Africa as part of his strategy to move into green energy. His Fortescue Metals Group has held talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for exclusive rights to develop the Grand Inga suite of projects, the Perth-based company said in a statement Tuesday, although no formal binding agreement had been yet concluded.
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Reinvestment in South Africa needed to ‘plant the seeds’ for a better future, says Exxaro

Reinvestment is needed to “plant the seeds” and create a better future for South Africa, says diversified miner Exxaro Resources projects and technology executive head Johan Meyer. This is especially critical considering that Covid-19 has made it more challenging to secure investments, but also when taking South Africa’s energy and electricity supply challenges into account.
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