Germany ready to help fund R390bn South African grid revamp

Germany is willing to help fund the R390-billion ($22-billion) that South Africa said it needs to incorporate more solar and wind power into the national grid and ensure its energy security. The European nation will be able to provide some funding once the scope for the grid-expansion project has been determined, according to its special envoy for a climate-finance pact between South Africa and some of the world’s richest countries. The deal, which was agreed in 2021 and is now worth $9.3-billion, has been criticized for its slow implementation.
/by

Investment company on track to meet net-zero energy goals

As part of its ambition to achieve Landlord Scope 1 and 2 Net-Zero Carbon by 2030 as well as implement sustainable practices, property investment company Liberty Two Degrees (L2D) has successfully implemented portfolio-wide energy management improvements, says sustainability lead specialist Brian Unsted. With this in mind, the company boasts total installed solar capacity of 13 MW across its portfolio, compared to 3 MW in 2022. The company also met its 2023 target of sourcing 3% of its portfolio’s energy baseload from renewable-energy sources, achieved through implementing onsite solar energy production.
/by

Competitive energy sector drives innovation

The competitive landscape for utility-scale renewable energy has significantly changed over the past decade, with developers driving more aggressive funding terms to remain competitive, says financial institution Standard Bank power head Rentia van Tonder. The shift in the competitive landscape has resulted in more investors and developers competing for projects. Therefore, financing solutions need to be innovative, consequently forcing financiers to consider different risk allocations as the market matures and be more adaptable to change, she explains.
/by

Emerging solar tech crucial in energy mix

Solar power integration, through PV, concentrated solar power (CSP) technology in specific applications, and hybrid solutions including battery energy storage systems (BESS), is crucial in South Africa’s energy mix as global energy demands continue to rise, says independent power producer (IPP) ENGIE South Africa engineering head Seshni Naidoo. She emphasises that solar energy is crucial in ensuring a sustainable, secure and affordable energy supply for South Africa while complementing other renewable and conventional energy sources.
/by

EU targets carbon emissions through import tariff

The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), set to come into effect in 2026, is poised to drive companies exporting to the EU to rethink their energy strategies and adopt renewable-energy solutions, such as solar power, says solar installation specialist Solana Energy business development lead Ahmed Motara. “The CBAM is an innovative policy tool designed by the EU to address carbon leakage and support the EU’s ambitious climate goals.”
/by

Cybersecurity crucial for companies embracing solar

As more companies integrate solar energy systems to meet their power needs, it is essential that they invest in cyber-secure technologies to protect against cyberthreats and ensure continuous power, says.solar technology specialists SolarEdge Technologies cybersecurity programme director Uri Sadot. The integration of solar energy systems, specifically unsecured inverters, can expose companies to cybersecurity vulnerabilities such as ransomware attacks, data breaches and remote control by cybercriminals.
/by