Concern lingers over both content of updated IRP and lack of consultation

Serious questions continue to be raised about both the content of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity currently being discussed at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) as a precursor to its approval by Cabinet, and the drafting and consultation processes that have been employed. Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has indicated that he is keen for the updated IRP to be approved soon, given that the prevailing IRP2019 is outdated. However, his initial deadline of the end of March was not met.
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Operation Vulindela’s reform lens widened to include municipal rescue, urban densification …

South Africa’s Government of National Unity Cabinet has endorsed a plan to incorporate three new reform priorities under the umbrella of Operation Vulindlela, which will now oversee and coordinate the implementation of reforms across seven areas in total. Approved by Cabinet in March, the new reform focus areas included as part of what is termed Operation Vulindlela Phase II, include:
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Wetility launches AI energy management solution to automatically boost solar use without …

Solar as a service provider Wetility has launched an AI-enabled solution for its customers to automatically optimise their solar and battery usage to improve electricity account savings, while still sustaining supply during periods of power disruption. Launched commercially on May 1, following over 15 months of research, development and beta testing across 500 customers, the App-based innovation uses real-time data to make autonomous decisions designed to improve the operational efficiencies.
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Develop gas economy now or face economic regression, Ramokgopa warns

South Africa faces a stark reality: failure to take urgent action to address the impending ‘gas cliff’ will result in economic regression, Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has warned. “The gas cliff is not a distant event. It is imminent. But it is not inevitable. We have the analytical tools, institutional memory and public-private platforms to act. What we now require is resolve, coordination and energy,” he told key industry stakeholders at the Natural Gas Symposium, in Johannesburg, on May 7.
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Ramokgopa announces big increase in gas-to-power load factor to 50%-plus

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has announced that the load factor for proposed gas-to-power (GtP) plants in South Africa will be increased from 25% to above 50%. Speaking at the release of Eskom’s winter outlook, the Minister said the policy change had been made following feedback from the market on what would be required to stimulate gas demand to solve what he described as an economic rather than an electricity problem.
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Itac initiates review of renewable energy facility inputs

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses a major tariff review initiated by the International Trade Commission of South Africa for inputs used in solar, wind and battery storage facilities at a time when there is broader reconsideration of trade and industrial policy in South Africa.
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Infrastructure link between gas demand and supply remains a constraint

While there is strong demand for gas for industrial and commercial uses in South Africa – and no shortage of finance for upstream oil and gas projects – the country has yet to take meaningful steps towards building the infrastructure needed to link demand and supply.  
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Review of 82 tariff codes for solar, wind and battery inputs could have far-reaching implications

A tariff review by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) of input materials and components used in wind, solar PV and battery storage facilities could have far-reaching implications for the renewables sector and electricity consumers. In a Gazette notice, Itac indicates that it will review 82 tariff codes for inputs and materials used in the renewables and storage value chains, including everything from solar panels and generators for wind turbines, to lithium-ion batteries, aluminium and steel structures and even screws, bolts and nuts used in renewables installations.
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Nordex Energy launches its most powerful wind turbine yet

Wind energy company Nordex Energy South Africa has confirmed the market readiness of the N175/6.X, which the company says is its most powerful onshore wind turbine so far. This follows the Nordex Group’s successful installation of the turbine on its in-house developed hybrid concrete-steel tower in Santow, Germany, earlier this year.
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Eskom’s R321bn capex plan has strong focus on grid, renewables and gas

State-owned electricity producer Eskom has unveiled details of a R321.72-billion capital expenditure (capex) plan for the coming five years, which includes plans for a material rise in grid-related investment, alongside new renewables and gas-to-power projects. In a presentation of its corporate plan to the Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy, Eskom indicated that R133-billion, or 41.2%, of its capital budget for the 2026 to 2030 financial years would be spent by the National Transmission Company (NTCSA).
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