Energy equipment and solutions provider CHINT Global will showcase its latest advancements in smart energy solutions at this year’s Electra Mining Africa conference, to be held at the Johannesburg Expo Centre from September 2 to 6. On September 4, the company will launch new product ranges, including the CJX1-22K vacuum contactors, the NM8N high-voltage series moulded case circuit breaker and the NM8NDC range of direct current (dc) switchgear.
South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is optimistic of converting the rise in business confidence that has accompanied the recent easing in loadshedding and visible efforts to address freight logistics bottlenecks into higher levels of investment this year, following a decline in disbursement during its 2024 financial year. The development finance institution disbursed R15.9-billion in the financial year to March 31, 2024, representing an 11% decline when compared with the R17.8-billion disbursed in the previous year.
Sustainable Power Solutions (SPS) has started to test and commission a R135-million solar PV and battery solution project for abalone farmer Aqunion, a subsidiary of the Sea Harvest Group. Construction of the solar system began in November last year.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has transferred legislation previously administered by the Mineral Resources and Energy Minister to Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe and Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa respectively. This follows the announcement earlier this year that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) would be split into the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) and the Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE).
JSE-listed real estate investment trust (Reit) Redefine Property has revealed that its total renewable energy component, which includes wheeling and further expansion of its rooftop solar PV portfolio, is expected to reach 25.14% by the end of next year. Speaking at the Redefine Property capital markets day in Sandton, on August 27, Redefine developments and industrial asset management head Johann Nell provided updates on the company’s progress.
Now in its sixteenth year, the Sasol Solar Challenge is set to start on September 13 in Secunda, in Mpumalanga, and wrap up at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on September 20. The biennial race, which will include international teams from universities in Belgium and The Netherlands, for example, is viewed as one of the four major solar car challenges in the world.
South African private power producers are seeking compensation for revenues lost when adhering to requests from state utility Eskom to limit electricity supply to the national grid, industry executives said. Eskom has submitted a proposal to the country’s energy regulator to introduce a mechanism to compensate independent power producers (IPPs) for lost revenue resulting from curtailment rates of up to 10%.
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has confirmed that it received, on August 16, Eskom’s sixth multiyear price determination (MYPD6) revenue application for the 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years. In a statement the regulator said that the application would be processed in line with all required procedures, including an assessment of its regulatory compliance, after which it would be published for stakeholder comment and public consultation.
Eskom has refrained from officially declaring an end to loadshedding despite having operated for more than 150 days without implementing rotational cuts; a period that coincided with the high-demand winter period. Nevertheless, CEO Dan Marokane expressed optimism that it was in a good position to navigate the high-maintenance summer months loadshedding-free, and that it could be in a position to formally announce an end to loadshedding by the end of March 2025.
As South Africa’s regulators mull a proposal from Eskom that could see electricity tariffs rise by as much as 40% next year, renewable-energy company GreenSun Renewable Energy has launched an energy-as-a-service offering for residential customers. The company is offering smart solar and battery installation at homes, all for the same cost or lower than current electricity bills, with increased reliability.