PCC’s Olver sees updating IRP to exclude new coal as key policy priority

Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) executive director Dr Crispian Olver says updating South Africa’s energy policy to exclude any new coal capacity to 2030 and beyond, while increasing the allocation for renewable energy to at least 30 GW by the end of the decade should be key priorities for the coming 24 months. In a presentation delivered at the 2021 edition of Windaba, in Cape Town, Olver said that research had affirmed that a renewables-dominant electricity system would be the lowest-cost for South Africa, as well as the fact that the costs associated with increasing the country’s decarbonisation ambition were not as high as initially expected.
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Ramaphosa moots possible hydrogen partnership with Namibia as he punts Boegoebaai export hub

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa stands ready to be a major exporter of green hydrogen and has described the special economic zone (SEZ) proposed for development at Boegoebaai, in the Northern Cape, as a major step towards realising the country’s potential to be a global leader in green hydrogen and derivative products, such as power fuels. In an address to the second Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium, which took place as a hybrid event in Sandton on Thursday, Ramaphosa described green energy more generally as one of the “new frontiers of infrastructure development”.
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Tesla’s gigafactory electrifies California-Germany culture clash

With final approval for its German factory potentially just weeks away, Tesla’s Elon Musk will make an appearance in the tiny town of Gruenheide this Saturday to host a county fair. Despite pandemic-related curbs limiting gatherings in Germany to under 5 000 people, Tesla applied for – and got – a permit to have 9 000 at the Oct. 9 ‘Giga-Fest’, after local authorities agreed the event would be COVID safe.
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Eskom calls on public to reduce energy use

Power utility Eskom is calling on the public to reduce electricity use, as the system is under pressure owing to a number of generating unit breakdowns. Total breakdowns amount to 14 925 MW, while planned maintenance is 4 759 MW of capacity.
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South Africa should not rush move away from coal, minister says

South Africa must manage its transition away from coal-fired power generation systematically and not rush a switch to renewable energy sources, Mining and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said on Thursday. “I am not saying coal for ever, … I am saying let’s manage our transition step by step rather than being emotional,” Mantashe told a mining conference, when asked how China’s pledge to not build new coal power stations abroad would affect South Africa.
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Mature local wind energy industry ready to deliver 14.4 GW of capacity over the next decade

The tenth yearly wind industry conference Windaba, which opened on October 7, marks a decade of wind power in South Africa and the industry has matured to the point that it is ready and able to build an additional 14.4 GW of wind power capacity over the next decade, says industry organisation South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) chairperson Mercia Grimbeek. “Our celebration of ten years of wind energy in South Africa brings us to a confluence as our industry stands ready for the next decade of growth that will be characterised as a resurgence and a period of exponential growth in our country’s energy narrative,” she notes.
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Thyssenkrupp, Wismut to study potential to repurpose old South African gold mines for energy storage

Diversified industrial group Thyssenkrupp Uhde South Africa and German uranium mining company Wismut have been appointed to execute a prefeasibility study for a renewable underground pumped hydroelectric energy storage (Ruphes) project on a specific but undisclosed site owned by a South African mining company. Thyssenkrupp Uhde South Africa is collaborating with international specialist companies to facilitate mine repurposing and has already signed a cooperation agreement with Wismut.
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Pele Green-EDF SA consortium to build 100 MW solar PV plant at Mogalakwena

JSE-listed platinum-group metals (PGMs) miner Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) has selected the Pele Green Energy – EDF Renewables South Africa consortium as the preferred supplier to build a 100 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant at its Mogalakwena mine, in Limpopo. Pele Green Energy develops, owns, procures, builds and operates renewable energy power projects, while EDF Renewables South Africa has global expertise in renewable energy technologies such as wind, solar PV and battery storage.
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NUM gets behind Cosatu strike on October 7

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has decided to join the October 7 national strike launched by Congress of South African Trade Union (Cosatu).

The NUM has, therefore, issued a call to its members in the mining, energy construction and metals sectors to join planned activities across the country – in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines – or withdraw their labour by staying at home on the day, as part of the Global Day for Decent Work.

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De Ruyter says ‘substantial’ concessional finance available to support just energy transition

Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter said on Tuesday that the message of the climate envoys who visited South Africa in the run up to the COP26 climate talks in Scotland was that there is “substantial concessional financing available” to enable South Africa to pursue a just energy transition. He indicated, however, that the initial focus would likely be on supporting Eskom to build the infrastructure required for decarbonisation, as well as to support vulnerable workers and communities, rather than to address Eskom’s legacy debt.
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