Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reports that government plans to establish an independent transmission project office, located either at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) or the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), to procure new transmission capacity using a build, operate and transfer (BOT) model. He used his latest briefing on the Energy Action Plan to again emphasise the importance of expanding the country’s electricity networks to help end loadshedding, which has been undermining the growth and development of the economy for some 14 years.
In what is believed to be the biggest such project implemented, so far, at a major South African golf club, a solar power and battery microgrid has been commissioned at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club. The project was the fruit of collaboration between the club, Solarise Africa, Hooray Power and Caracal Engineering. “Selecting Solarise Africa as our energy partner was a strategic decision driven by their expert approach, proven success, and innovative power purchase [PPA] model that relieved us of the capital burden associated with outright purchase and future technology requirements,” explained golf club CEO Christopher Bentley. “With our solar system now operational, generating around 400 MWh of energy per year, we anticipate substantial savings on our monthly energy bills, coupled with the assurance of a constant energy supply. This venture not only secures our financial interests but also aligns seamlessly with our commitment to environmental sustainability.”