ArcVera Renewables sets up office in Cape Town

Wind, solar and energy storage project consultancy and technical services provider ArcVera Renewables has set up a permanent office and new subsidiary company in Cape Town, strengthening its six-year local presence to offer and meet the growing renewable energy ambitions of South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. This move underpins South Africa’s growing importance as a strategic market for ArcVera, the company said in a statement on July 19.
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Cape Town electricity outages the work of syndicates, Eskom says

Recurring vandalism of Cape Town electricity infrastructure could be the work of syndicates, Eskom believes. The vandalism of Eskom kiosks in Eerste River has left customers without electricity supply for the second time in less than a month, the power utility said in a statement.
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ATI provides Malawi solar PV plant with liquidity support

Insurance agency African Trade Insurance (ATI) Agency has provided the 60 MW Salima solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, in Malawi, with a revolving liquidity guarantee that can be drawn following any payment delays by the national offtaker, namely the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom). ATI provided the $4.4-million liquidity guarantee under its regional liquidity support facility (RLSF) against the risk of delayed payment by Malawi power utility Escom.
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SIDS fast-tracks infrastructure- boosting projects

As part of the Sustainable Infrastructure Development System (SIDS) methodology launched last year, the government announced 50 projects, along with 12 special projects, that the methodology has already been applied to. These projects were fast-tracked for implementation along with all regulatory processes.
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Savings lead to solar expansion for food handler

Frozen goods handling company iDube Cold Storage, based at the Dube Tradeport, King Shaka International Airport, in KwaZulu-Natal, is expanding its rooftop solar system. The project entails installing a solar carport structure to house pallets and will be installed and managed by solar solutions company SolarSaver.
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Manufacturer provides solutions for distance learning

Educational engineering equipment manufacturer and importer Amtec Techniquip has developed new products to assist in local distance learning at a time when learners cannot physically access their engineering learning institutions. “Two trends we’ve been adapting to are the integration of software, which enables us to use the hardware equipment that we are supplying, and virtual platforms, through which you can build and develop electrical, mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic circuits on a software package, and add simulation to allow for fault finding,” explains Amtec sales manager Roger Forte.
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Opinion: Inclusive process now vital to define a collective electricity industry vision

In this opinion article, Energy Intensive User Group CEO Fanele Mondi says that, although reforms allowing for higher levels of own generation will make a significant difference, there is also an urgent need for South Africans to collectively shape the future of the electricity supply industry and to ensure a just energy transition for the benefit of all stakeholders
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IEA report points to growth in global electricity demand this year

The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects global electricity demand to rebound strongly this year and next.

Electricity demand decreased by about 1% in 2020, but is expected to grow by 5% this year and by 4% in 2022, a new IEA report shows.

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Eskom starts forum to strengthen relations with strategic suppliers

To strengthen its relationship with its strategic suppliers, State-owned power utility Eskom has introduced the Strategic Supplier Engagement Forum, with the first session held virtually on July 15. Addressing the supplier forum, which was attended by 29 suppliers, Eskom group CE André de Ruyter emphasised the need for Eskom and its suppliers to collaborate to take cost out of the supply chain, by focusing on a reduction in working capital, improving service levels and eliminating inefficiencies in Eskom’s procurement system.
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New initiative launched to raise awareness on key role of power grids in Africa

The RES4Africa Foundation, an Italian non-profit organisation that promotes the development of renewable energy on the continent, has launched a Grids4Africa initiative to support the development of the transmission and distribution networks needed to raise levels of renewables deployment and energy access. Nearly 600-million Africans currently do not have access to electricity and the Covid-19 crisis has, for the first time in a decade, reversed recent gains made in improving access.
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