Eskom Holdings said it was urgently seeking new providers of technical support after Oracle Corp’s South African unit withdrew its services over a payment dispute. The State power utility has been in a disagreement with Oracle, which initially claimed Eskom underpaid it by about R7.3-billion, before reducing the amount to R380-million.
Natural gas is falling out of favor with emissions-wary investors and utilities at a quicker pace than coal did, catching some power generators unaware and potentially leaving them stuck with billions of dollars of assets they can’t sell. Citigroup Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are among the banks that strengthened their financing restrictions on thermal coal under pressure from shareholders wanting to avoid the fuel, and the expectation is that gas is next. Executives at some western European companies say they’re already struggling to sell gas-fired facilities.
Clean technology and renewable energy trends are a clear investment play and offer opportunities for investors seeking to make a difference or appreciable investment growth, says asset and investment company Foord Asset Management portfolio manager Brian Arcese. He adds, however, that the strategy needs long-term investment.
City of Johannesburg utility City Power will embark on a three-week programme to patrol and clear electricity lines servitudes of encroaching objects, it said on April 15. An investigation conducted by City Power into the cause of frequent power outages affecting the north-eastern corridors, especially the Greenstone area, found that, while most of the outages were owing to vandalism and cable theft, a worrying number were owing to faults on the overhead lines caused by encroaching objects, including trees and buildings.
Research agency Fitch Solutions says global investment of more than $21-billion toward the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain shows the urgency of market expansion.
With Western Europe claiming the biggest share of investment, it reflects the focus on producing EVs in the region and the growing role of carmakers in the supply chain.
Aim-listed hydrogen technology developer AFC Energy has entered into a strategic partnership with technology group ABB regarding the development of electric vehicle (EV) charging systems.
ABB is investing £3.25-million into AFC Energy, as a commitment to the international e-mobility market to set new standards in zero-emission high-power EV charging.
Embracing renewable energy, adapting business models, reducing operational expenditure and using Internet of Things (IoT) technologies can lead to effective power generation and transmission, says University of Pretoria (UP) associate professor Raj Naidoo. While the energy model for electricity generation is evolving at a rapid rate globally, South Africa’s initiatives to integrate renewables sourced power into the coal-dominated generation programme have been slow.
The off-grid energy sector is continuing to grow, with shifts towards using standalone off-grid and renewable-energy-powered minigrid systems, as such systems can provide electricity in areas where current grid infrastructure cannot reach. However, despite the growth in the sector, there has been little focus on skills development programmes for local human capital.
Southern Africa is familiar with low levels of electricity access and frequent electricity power cuts, owing to dilapidating infrastructure and its inadequacy to provide electricity in rural areas. However, using alternative and more affordable energy sources, such as solar, wind and waste-to-energy solutions, will enable rural communities to have access to electricity, says advisory firm Birguid’s associate and chief financial officer Kudzaishe Chivandire.
Southern African energy development company Tlou Energy has awarded tenders for the construction of transmission lines and substations to connect the coal-bed methane Lesedi power project to the Botswana national electricity grid at Serowe, the company said on April 14. Botswana electrical engineering company Zismo Engineering was awarded the tender to build the 100 km overhead line, while construction and mining contract multinational Murray & Roberts subsidiary OptiPower will build the substations at Lesedi and Serowe.
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