SAPVIA welcomes launch of REIPPPP Bid Window 6

Industry association the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has welcomed the commitment shown by government with the launch of Bid Window (BW) 6 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). Following closely on the announcement of preferred bidders for BW 5, this new BW is critical in the drive to get much-needed additional generation capacity, and ultimately kilowatt-hours, onto the grid, the association emphasises.
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ST Energies signs MoU for filling station solar solution

French fuel and energy multinational ST Energies has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a Shell filling station in Worcerster, in the Western Cape, to implement a sustainable solar solution that will allow the station to achieve carbon-neutral status. The initiative is designed to deliver reliable power to filling stations using a combination of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, batteries and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) backup to keep them off the grid and operational.
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Retaining refining capacity could pose long-term risks for South Africa

South Africa’s oil refining capacity has always been rather small when considered on a global scale, but there was some sense of national pride and of security in knowing that the country could deliver – even if most of the crude input had to be imported. While local refineries were never able to fulfil South Africa’s demand for fuel in recent times – at 25-billion litres a year – local refining capacity helped to supplement imported supplies.
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