Corporate and investment bank RMB reports that it financed renewable-energy investments worth R50-billion over the past year and is expecting ongoing high levels of renewables funding this year, while positioning itself to also finance private grid projects in future. Infrastructure sector solutions head Judy Kobus reports that the bank’s funding has supported projects with a combined capacity of 2 400 MW, which were implemented on the back of both public and private procurement initiatives in South Africa.
Commercial and industrial geyser and boiler manufacturer Kwikot on September 18 launched its new Elon Smart Water heating system – a smart geyser system that uses solar PV-generated electricity and/or grid power. The Elon solution was developed by electricity technology startup company PowerOptimal in partnership with Kwikot and specialist electronics manufacturer Microtronix, which served as the manufacturing partner that developed the prototype and manufactures the systems.
While South Africa has seen the installation of more than 590 MW of rooftop solar power in the year-to-date, which adds to other renewable-energy installations, the question remains whether State-owned power utility Eskom will be able to timeously build the 14 000 km of transmission lines needed to expand the electricity network. In response to questions raised during Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa’s Ministerial Conference hosted on September 17, Energy and Electricity Deputy Minister Samantha Graham-Maré said government was exploring options to alleviate pressure on the national grid.
A new South Africa-wide survey shows that, while 62% of respondents support the shift from coal to renewable energy, a striking 65% have never heard of the term ‘Just Transition’. In addition, the majority of respondents expressed concern about possible negative impacts for themselves and their families, with 29% indicating that they are ‘somewhat worried’ about such impacts and 20% reporting a ‘high level of worry’. Compiled for the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) by the Human Sciences Research Council, the survey involved some 3 100 respondents from across South Africa, making it the first nationally representative survey of public perceptions and attitudes relating to the Just Transition and climate change.
Less than two months ahead of the COP29 United Nations Climate Summit, the Azerbaijani leadership laid out its plans on Tuesday for what it hoped to achieve, as countries continue to wrestle with how to raise ambitions for a new financing target. The main task for the November summit is for countries to agree on a new annual target for funding that wealthy countries will pay to help poorer nations cope with climate change. Many developing countries say they cannot upgrade their targets to cut emissions faster without first receiving more financial support to invest in doing this.
A global organisation backed by Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos’ climate and biodiversity fund said it’s setting up a programme to attract investment into South African municipal power grids, which need R319-billion to prepare for the introduction of more renewable energy. The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, or Geapp, will work alongside partners to prepare projects for investment to repair and upgrade dilapidated grids, said Ziyad Cassim, the group’s South African country representative.
Through a collaboration between Australian glass solar technology developer ClearVue and local technology distributor Concept Business Solutions, a novel transparent glass solar panel technology for use in building facades has been launched in South Africa. Concept Business Solutions will be the licensed distributor of the ClearVue technology in South Africa, which will be branded as ClearPV locally.
The South African National Energy Agency (SANEA) will host its inaugural leadership conference at the Gallagher Convention Centre, in Midrand, in November as the organisation marks its centenary. Convened under the theme of ‘Transform – Energising Progress: Transformative Leadership for a sustainable future’, the two-day event will also include a SANEA Centenary Celebration on November 6 and the SANEA Awards Breakfast on November 7.
Zambia’s biggest mines are turning to a surprising power source as the copper-producing nation battles an unprecedented energy crisis: South African electricity company Eskom Holdings, which until March faced its own severe deficit. An historic drought has stifled hydropower turbines that Zambia relies on for about 85% of supplies. Households have power for just three hours a day. And firms like First Quantum Minerals have had to look beyond the nation’s borders for electricity to keep their mines and smelters running.
Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is assembling a committee of experts to advise him on the role that nuclear could play in South Africa’s future supply before issuing a new Ministerial determination for the possible procurement of 2 500 MW of new nuclear capacity. He has also reiterated that any possible future procurement would arise only if it was deemed to be affordable and after a “credible” public consultation process, acknowledging that the two previous procurement attempts had been “soiled” by a lack of transparency and allegations of malfeasance.
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