Standard Bank’s pipeline of private utility scale renewables projects stands at 4 GW

Standard Bank reports that it has financed 400 MW of distributed generation since government’s recent decision to allow utility scale projects of any size to proceed without a licence even when wheeling electricity through the grid. In addition, its pipeline of such projects for the coming 12 months has increased to 4 GW, including some 1 GW-worth of capacity that is expected to reach financial close within the coming six months. Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) head Zaid Moola described the reform to Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act, which initially removed the licensing requirement for projects below 100 MW in 2021 and later lifted the threshold altogether, as a “proper game changer”.
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Focus on microgrids while grid capacity issues are being resolved – Winde

The current capacity constraints in Eskom’s transmission system can, to a degree, be countered by a focus on microgrids, says Western Cape premier Alan Winde. Speaking at Windaba Connect in Cape Town, he noted that it could “take years” for the national grid to be able to move the large number of gigawatts required to end loadshedding.
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Fuel cell electric vehicle demonstration seen as catalyst for nascent green hydrogen economy

In a milestone for South Africa’s nascent green hydrogen economy, three large corporates have teamed up to showcase the potential of using domestically produced hydrogen as a zero-emission transportation alternative. During a demonstration in Gauteng, a second-generation Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) was refuelled with hydrogen produced by Sasol in Sasolburg, in the Free State. The hydrogen was transported by truck in an Air Products tube trailer, and the vehicle was refuelled on site using the US multinational’s mobile hydrogen dispensing technology.
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Study confirms South Africa can produce most components needed for the transmission, …

A study on value chain mapping of the South African transmission and distribution networks published by nonprofit the Localisation Support Fund (LSF) finds there are opportunities to localise components in this value chain, should concerns and constraints be effectively addressed.

The Eskom Transmission Development Plan (TDP) of 2022 estimates that 53 GW of new generation capacity will be added to the network between 2023 and 2032.

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Ramaphosa highlights collaboration to address crimes targeting infrastructure

President Cyril Ramaphosa noted on Monday that business is working with government to build capacity within the National Prosecuting Authority and the Hawks, alongside the modernisation of the 10111 emergency response centre and collaboration between industry and the South African Police Service to address crimes targeting key infrastructure. In his weekly letter to the nation, Ramaphosa pointed out that since June, government has been working closely with alliance group Business for South Africa (B4SA) on critical actions to address the key challenges of energy, logistics, and crime and corruption.
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As Kusile unit returns early, South Africa misses renewables procurement deadline

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has welcomed the earlier-than-expected return of Kusile Unit 3 coal-fired generation, but has also acknowledged that government simultaneously failed to meet its end of September deadline for the release of the next public procurement round for renewable energy. Eskom confirmed on Saturday September 30 that Kusile Unit 3 had been restarted nearly a year after it, together with units 1 and 2, became inoperable after a slurry build up in the Unit 1 flue led to its collapse, damaging the other two flues in the west chimney they share in the process.
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