Industry association the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has welcomed the investment decision by Italian-based firm Enertronica Santerno to expand its manufacturing activities in South Africa. The Italian firm, which has been an active player in South Africa over the past ten years, will be investing up to R17-million to enhance its capacity to manufacture inverters for solar photovoltaic (PV) applications, including storage solutions, with a maximum initial production capacity of more than 500 MW a year, gradually ramping up to higher capacity targets.
Creamer Media’s Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s decision to refuse to provider Karpowership SA environmental authorisations for its proposed powership projects; Karpowership’s response; and what this means for the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.
State-owned power utility Eskom will implement a 1.5% basic wage increase with effect from July 1. Eskom says the offer is dependent on the efficiencies and savings realised from reviewing certain elements of employee benefits where there are excesses.
Energy storage is becoming a critical part of business operations and a vital element of the economy, particularly in the manufacturing sector, says solar energy company Blockpower director Kyle Bohnsack.
Wind energy is important in driving potential demand for energy storage, says nonprofit organisation South African Wind and Energy Association (SAWEA) CEO Ntombifuthi Ntuli.
Solar energy company SustainSolar has completed the supply of its battery energy storage system to the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in East London, in the Eastern Cape.
Europe’s Green Deal is not just a vision or idea, but a well-funded policy that is being implemented, and that is set to have a wide-ranging impact on South African exports, says Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) executive chairperson Dr Johan van Zyl. Van Zyl stepped down as Toyota Motors Europe president and CEO earlier this year.
The South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) has published a study on residential energy use, which suggests that, by improving energy efficiency in this sector, it can reduce evening peak demand.
During peak periods, the residential sector accounts for up to 35% of national electricity demand in South Africa, while, globally, the residential sector consumes one-fifth of the world’s energy.
A study by global environmental consultancy Ricardo and Environmental Defense Fund for the P4G Getting to Zero Coalition Partnership has found that South Africa “holds an untapped opportunity” to supply the global shipping industry with zero-carbon fuels. The production of green hydrogen-derived fuels can help to meet decarbonisation targets and act as a catalyst for the country’s economy, thereby opening new export markets and supporting an equitable transition, while also creating the jobs of the future.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has refused to provide Karpowership SA with environmental authorisation for its three powership-based gas-to-power projects, proposed for development at the ports of Richards Bay, Ngqura and Saldanha Bay. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) applications were submitted in October 2020 ahead of the closing date for bidding under the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s Risk Mitigation Independent Power Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP).
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