Distributed generation funding model ideas will ‘evolve’, but regulation critical

New funding model ideas for distributed generation projects will evolve as the market expands, but Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) business development head Hugh Howarden has stressed the importance of government clarifying the requirements for the development and registration of such projects. President Cyril Ramaphosa in June announced that the licensing-exemption threshold for distribution generation projects would increase to 100 MW and that the new requirements for such projects would be gazette within 60 days.
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Use COP26 to position South Africa as destination of choice for rapid decarbonisation …

Deputy chair of South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) Valli Moosa has presented an upbeat assessment of the country’s ability to position itself as a preferred global destination for foreign and domestic decarbonisation investment. Speaking during a hydrogen-focused webinar on Thursday, Moosa warned that South Africa’s prevailing high carbon intensity had the potential to undermine its long-term competitiveness as countries and companies became increasingly climate-conscious and sought to restrict trade in carbon-heavy products.
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Conco Energy Solutions acquired by 51% black female owned company

Energy equipment and solutions provider Conco Energy Solutions has been acquired by wholly black-owned DLO Resources Group, which is headed up by 51% shareholder, founder and CEO Linda Mabhena-Olagunju. DLO is a renewable energy developer and strategic investor.
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SAPVIA calls for clarity on local content requirements

The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) is calling for immediate clarity from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) about its approach to localisation, specifically in the South African solar photovoltaic (PV) sector. The DTIC and the National Treasury have stipulated minimum thresholds for local content across several sectors – including solar PV components – with the intent being to encourage local manufacturing and, ultimately, industrialisation in South Africa.
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Flexible dual-fuel engines to modernise Flour Mills Nigeria plant

Energy and marine equipment manufacturer Wärtsilä will supply fuel-flexible dual-fuel engines to extend, improve and modernise power generation for a captive power plant at Nigeria’s oldest and largest food and agroprocessing company Flour Mills Nigeria. Flour Mills Nigeria’s Lagos-based power plant is needed to ensure sufficient capacity and a reliable around-the-clock electricity supply to enable the company to manufacture its food products and meet its commitment to customers.
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New framework needed to accommodate third-party electricity generators on the national grid

The wheeling and trading of electricity produced by third parties into the national grid is a complex issue that requires frameworks and grid capacity building, State-owned power utility retail pricing corporate specialist Shirley Salvoldi has said.

She spoke during a webinar on the topic of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that the licensing-exemption threshold for distributed generation projects would be increased from 1 MW to 100 MW, and how this could benefit South Africa’s commercial and industrial sectors.

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Creecy calls on rich countries to dramatically raise climate finance pledges from $100bn ‘floor’

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy has called on the developed countries to ensure access to long-term, predictable and affordable climate finance for developing countries. Creecy participated in a July Climate Ministerial meeting hosted in London, in the UK, this week by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP26 president-designate, Alok Sharma.
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Adopting a 1.5°C pathway could accelerate universal energy access in Africa

Africa has a narrow window of opportunity to use its natural resource advantages and relatively low carbon emissions to attract the finance it needs to both accelerate a renewables-based energy transition that is supportive of a sub-1.5°C climate outcome and ensure universal energy access. This was the message of Dalberg Group executive director James Mwangi during an Africa Renewable Energy Dialogue this week, convened by the International Renewable Energy Agency, United Nations (UN) High-level Climate Action Champions, the African Climate Foundation and the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
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Fund lends €25m to Côte d’Ivoire clean energy hydropower project

The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), owned by the Private Infrastructure Development Group, is lending €25-million over 18 years to Ivoire Hydro Energy (IHE), which will build a 44 MW hydroelectric plant on the Bandama river near the village of Singrobo, in Côte d’Ivoire. Financial close on the €174-million project is expected in the third quarter of this year. Construction will take about 36 months.
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Sturdee Energy signs two PPAs for Botswana renewable energy projects

Independent power producer Sturdee energy has entered into two power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) for two renewable energy IPP projects. The projects, located in Bobonong and Shakawe, will have an installed capacity of 3 MW and 1 MW, respectively.
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