Nafcoc pushes for transformation amid promise of energy generation opportunities

Federated chamber the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc) has welcomed the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that the licensing-exemption threshold for distributed generation projects will be increased to 100 MW from the previous cap of 1 MW. “We are delighted with this development as it allows ordinary companies and independent power producers (IPPs) to contribute significantly to the country’s energy requirements and it also creates an environment that is conducive to investment in clean energy in South Africa,” says Nafcoc Gauteng spokesperson Refilwe Monageng.
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KfW issues RFI for €200m South African green-hydrogen programme

A request for Information (RFI), aimed at gathering information on potential green hydrogen project opportunities in South Africa, has been released. The RFI has been issued by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Meridian Economics on behalf of German development bank KfW, which has set aside up to €200-million in concessional financing on behalf of the German government for the initiative.
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Dartcom to distribute Longi solar panels in South Africa

Telecommunications and power equipment company Dartcom has signed an agreement with solar power equipment manufacturer Longi Solar to distribute its panels in South Africa. The deal will result in Dartcom importing, warehousing and distributing various product ranges of Longi Solar panels in bulk.
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Climate Commission sees no downside to more ambitious emissions pledge

South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) has recommended that government make an improved carbon-reduction commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and should also confirm a long-term target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. In a report delivered to President Cyril Ramaphosa on July 1, the PCC argues that South Africa’s target range for 2030 should be lowered to between 350- and 420-million tons carbon dioxide equivalent (MT CO2-eq).
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Energy transition to have a net positive effect on jobs

Creamer Media’s Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about a new report published by the International Renewable Energy Agency that shows that an energy transition aligned with a 1.5°C-compatible climate pathway will have a net positive effects on job creation and about what this could mean for South Africa.
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US Security Council likely to meet next week on Ethiopia dam

The United Nations Security Council will likely meet next week to discuss a dispute between Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt over a giant dam built by Ethiopia on the Blue Nile, French UN Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said on Thursday. Arab states earlier this month called on the 15-member council to meet to discuss the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and Ethiopia’s plans fill the dam for a second time this summer without an agreement with Sudan and Egypt.
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Opinion The new 100 MW threshold – the best megawatt remains the megawatt not used

In this opinion piece, South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) energy efficiency and corporate communications GM Barry Bredenkamp writes about the importance of South Africa continuing to pursue energy efficiency despite the prospect of increased power generation capacity.
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EPC regulations roll out promoted

The South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) is actively promoting the roll-out of the new Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Regulations. This is being done through SANAS’ new accreditation programme for accreditation of inspection bodies that will issue EPCs for buildings in accordance with the South African National Standard, SANS 1544.
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Company achieves milestone

Rapidly growing demand in the industrial sector, has seen nitrogen generation equipment supplier Nitralife recently achieving the milestone of having supplied more than 100 customised Nitracut generators to the fabrication and industrial sector over the past four years. “With each new sector and application, we have developed greater expertise and understanding, which has allowed us to offer customers the best and most appropriate technology and solution for their application,” says Nitralife MD Tom Sowry.
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Quarter-four completion for R135m solar carports project at Ford’s Silverton plant

The 13.5 MW, R135-million solar carport project at Ford South Africa’s Silverton assembly plant, in Pretoria, should be completed in the fourth quarter of this year, says Uhuru Energy CEO Mark Kaplan. The project forms part of a larger programme – Project Blue Oval – to develop an integrated renewable-energy solution for the facility, with the aim for the plant to be entirely green and energy self-sufficient by 2024.
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