Bank sees load-shedding, factionalism impeding strong fixed-investment recovery in 2021

A leading bank economist expects fixed investment in South Africa to remain muted in 2021, weighed down by ongoing power shortages, political uncertainty and the Covid-19 pandemic. Standard Bank chief economist Goolam Ballim forecasts that investment levels will pick up in 2022, however, spurred by a recovery in global economic growth, as well as a rise in consumer confidence as the health and economic impacts of the pandemic taper in line with mass vaccination campaigns.
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Solarise Africa adds Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia to renewable leasing solutions

Renewable energy leasing solutions company Solarise Africa has announced its expansion into Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia after signing a partnership agreement with turnkey energy services company Centennial Generating . The partnership adds seven projects in Rwanda, spread across the education, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, hospitality and agriculture sectors; two projects in Zambia; and one upcoming project in Uganda to the Solarise Africa portfolio.
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Eskom to implement Stage 3 load-shedding from 13:00

Power utility Eskom say sit will implement Stage 3 load-shedding from 13:00 on February 10 to 06:00 on February 11. This is necessary as the power generation system is still severely constrained as a result of high generation unit breakdowns during the past three days, as well as the need to replenish diminishing emergency generation reserves, it states.
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Green hydrogen and powerfuels could revive ailing PetroSA, unlock green steel and create …

The combination of South Africa’s world-class wind, solar and land resources, its platinum group metals reserves, as well as its historical experience in industrial-scale synthetic-fuel manufacture, position the country strongly for the production of green hydrogen and tradeable synthetic powerfuels, a new report affirms. These competitive advantages open up major export opportunities potentially worth €160-billion a year, as well as near-term prospects to repurpose PetroSA’s ailing gas-to-liquids refinery in Mossel Bay to produce carbon-neutral aviation fuel and to revive the mothballed Saldahna Steel to produce green steel.
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Hydrogen growth to continue as energy users increasingly look to green technology

Following a surge in stock prices throughout 2020, the growth of the hydrogen energy sector looks set to maintain momentum throughout this year, financial services firm finnCap’s new quarterly energy report for the first quarter of 2021 states.

The report, titled ‘Hydrogen − this time it’s for real’ finds that recent gains differ from earlier hype cycles with factors such as government buy-ins, lower production costs, large-scale private partnerships and technological advancements having coalesced to assert hydrogen’s role in the energy transition.

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Hyde Park Corner rolls out solar panel project

Shopping centre Hyde Park Corner has installed a 384 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system on its two office block roofs and carports on the North Eastern parking deck to lower its carbon footprint. The system, rolled out by specialist solar PV company Solareff, comprises 900 430 W half cut Mono Percium panels.
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NamPower requests market information for 50 MW wind project

State-owned power utility Namibian Power Corporation (NamPower) has launched a request for information to developers or technology providers for the proposed development of the 50 MW Luderitz wind power project.

This exercise is aimed at soliciting market information from interested parties, including developers; financiers; engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors; lenders; operations and maintenance contractors; regulators; and consumers to assist in developing decisions that will shape and influence the development of the proposed project.

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Outa, HSF speak out against proposed procurement of new nuclear power capacity

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) and the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) have opposed Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe’s proposal to procure new nuclear power capacity. This follows after the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) issued a consultation paper and called for public input, comment and response to a determination by the Minister in terms of the Electricity Regulation Act to procure 2 500 MW of new nuclear power in South Africa.
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Lighting energy saving app developed to save costs

The South African German Energy Programme (Sagen), implemented by the German development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) have launched a new application (app) to improve investment decisions around energy use in lighting of buildings across South Africa.

The app has been tailored especially for the local market and will be made available for download later this year.

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Nersa subcommittee recommends approval of 40 MW Gold Fields solar licence

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) electricity subcommittee has recommended that the Energy Regulator approves Gold Fields’ high-profile licence application for a 40 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project to be developed at its South Deep mine, in Gauteng. Nersa has confirmed with Engineering News & Mining Weekly that the decision was made at a virtual meeting of the subcommittee on February 5.
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