Regulatory, policy constraints continue to bedevil SA’s distributed generation market

Creamer Media’s Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about the fact that South Africa is still experiencing load-shedding, but remains slow to open up the market to distributed energy projects, as well as about what could be done to realise this pent-up potential.
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New batteries launch for sector

Following local automotive battery manufacturer AutoX’s 18-month research and development process at its manufacturing plant, in Port Elizabeth, the company launched its gel-based batteries for the local automotive industry at the end of last year. Vehicles, from passenger cars to commercial vehicles, use lead-acid batteries, which are also known as flooded batteries because the electrolyte – the chemical that facilitates the production of the electrical current – is in a liquid state.
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Alternators provide safe, uninterrupted power

Power generation and power transmission product supplier Vert Energy offers custom-designed solutions for dependable power in areas without connection to the mains. “There is often the inconvenience of having to do work that requires electricity, in areas where there is no connection to the mains. As part of our commitment to solving problems for customers in every area of industry, we offer a dependable solution to difficult power generation issues with specially designed Leroy Somer (LS) Tractelec system,” says Very Energy MD Grant Robertson.
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High-quality equipment supply through partnership

Power generation and electro-mechanical power transmission supplier Vert Energy has been appointed by Japanese diesel engine manufacturer Yanmar as its official distributor in Southern Africa for Yanmar industrial engines from the beginning of 2021. “What’s exciting for the African market is the easy access to the globally respected Yanmar brand through local specialists, offering a dependable service and technical support, in line with stringent international standards,” says Vert Energy sales and marketing director Ryan Robertson.
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Japan and the UK partnering on robotics for use in nuclear facilities

Japan and the UK are partnering to develop and deploy new automation and robotics techniques for use in both the decommissioning of nuclear plants and the development of nuclear fusion energy. The project, designated LongOps, will receive £12-million in funding and will run for four years. The funding is being provided equally by three entities. These are UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Britain’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and Japan’s Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco). The project will be led by the Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE) facility of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). The UKAEA is the British government agency responsible for research and development (R&D) in the field of nuclear fusion energy.
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As South Africa veers from NDP jobs and poverty goals ‘course corrections’ proposed

With the National Development Plan’s (NDP’s) goals of achieving full employment and eliminating poverty by 2030 already out of reach ahead of the onset of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, which has since obliterated the plan’s objectives entirely, the outgoing National Planning Commission (NPC) has outlined recommendations for a “course correction” in a 170-page analysis. The document, titled a ‘Review of Economic Progress towards Vision 2030’, was first published in December and was formally canvassed with stakeholders during a well-attended webinar on Thursday.
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NUM tackles De Ruyter over Eskom’s poor performance, load-shedding

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Thursday said it is unhappy with the load-shedding being carried out in South Africa and “very disappointed” with the performance of Eskom under the leadership of chief executive André de Ruyter. “The current management team has taken the country to stage 6 for the first time in the history of this country. This team is perpetually failing to produce sufficient power to avoid load-shedding. Under this leadership, load-shedding is expected to be with us for the next two to three years,” said Khangela Baloyi, NUM Eskom energy sector co-ordinator.
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Zeerust Power begins commercial operations

Zeerust Solar, in the North West province, has started commercial operations, having achieved full compliance on January 1. This 100% South African-owned photovoltaic (PV) project joins the Bokamoso and Waterloo Solar plants, putting the North West on the map as a player in the renewable energy sector, not only delivering additional power to the country’s national grid, but also to benefit the rural communities through impactful economic development programmes, Zeerust Solar said in a statement.
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Aggreko to implement hybrid power solution for Gold Field’s Salares Norte in Chile

Mobile and modular power solutions provider Aggreko has signed a ten-year contract with global miner Gold Fields to provide a 25.9 MW hybrid solar and thermal power solution for the Salares Norte openpit gold/silver mine, in Chile. This solution has been designed to provide power for the entire mine, which sits at an altitude of 4 500 m in the Andes mountain range and is 190 km from the nearest town.
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Raising distributed-generation licensing threshold to 50 MW would unlock at least 5 000 MW in …

Lifting the licensing threshold for distributed-generation projects to 50 MW or higher could unlock an estimated 5 000 MW of additional capacity in five years and go a long way to rapidly easing South Africa’s debilitating power supply constraints. This is the conclusion of a Meridian Economics analysis of a recent industry survey conducted by EE Business Intelligence at the request of Meridian Economics.
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