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Eskom expects to roll-out virtual wheeling scheme before end of 2024

Electricity utility Eskom expects to formally roll-out a virtual wheeling scheme, which it has been piloting with mobile telecoms group Vodacom since August, to the rest of the market before the end of 2024. The contracting platform will allow for one or more generators to transact with multiple customers that have operations distributed across the country, including those whose facilities are located in municipal distribution areas and connected to low-voltage networks.
October 6, 2023 by

International Finance Corporation to develop offshore wind power road map for South Africa

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank group, is to develop an offshore wind power road map for South Africa, IFC Principal Renewable Energy Specialist Sean Whittaker announced at the Windaba conference, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, on late Thursday afternoon. (The IFC is the World Bank’s private sector financing institution.) “We’re very pleased to announce that we are initiating a road map for South Africa,” he said. “This work will be taking place over the next nine to 12 months.”
October 6, 2023 by

‘Anchor demand’ a must for renewables masterplan to succeed – Montmasson-Clair

The energy sector requires consistent demand from a consistent flow of renewable energy projects in order to invest in local manufacturing, and not “haphazard demand that comes and goes”, says South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (Sarem) facilitator and Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) senior economist Gaylor Montmasson-Clair. “Anchor demand is critical. For me it is really important that we smooth out that process going forward.
October 6, 2023 by

Energy transition has potential to dramatically increase demand for steel

With local electricity grid constraints becoming more prevalent and given the global emphasis on decarbonisation, the ongoing energy transition, as well as loadshedding, are expected to present both opportunities and risks for the South African steel industry, which is in decline. The South African Steel and Metal Fabrication Master Plan – released in 2021 – describes the local steel industry as being “largely in survival mode”, necessitating  measures to increase demand for local steel and effective localisation.
October 6, 2023 by

EPR regulations positive for waste reduction

The amended Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations, instituted in November 2020, require product importers and manufacturers in the packaging industry to contribute towards the recycling of product packaging, which has had a significant impact on waste production, says Zero Waste Technologies operations director Hein Fourie.   A contentious issue in the amended regulations for manufacturing industry, particularly those in the electronic equipment manufacturing and paper and plastic packaging industries, is the requirement to become affiliates of producer responsibility organisations (PROs) which requires the payment of daily fees, based on net cost recovery to PROs, owing to the high volumes of waste they produce.
October 6, 2023 by

Eskom to extend deadline for decommissioning stations

State-owned entity Eskom is undertaking a just energy transition strategy and pursuing repurposing and repowering of some of its coal-fired power stations separate to decommissioning them. This will see the company extend the deadline for the decommissioning of some coal-fired power stations, while loadshedding could potentially also worsen as it undertakes necessary maintenance during the summer months. This was indicated by Eskom Just Energy Transition GM Dr Vikesh Rajpaul on October 5, delivering one of the keynotes during the second day of the Joburg Indaba.
October 5, 2023 by

Government taking too long to wrap up power projects – Ramokgopa

Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says he “laments” the time it takes for government to go from issuing requests for proposals (RFPs) to announcing preferred bidder status and reaching financial close when it comes to renewable energy power projects. “Our going out for RFPs and preferred bidder status is really the domain of the State, and the State takes an inordinate amount of time.”
October 5, 2023 by

Many wind turbine components can be recycled

An issue regarding wind farms that will have to be addressed is how to handle their inevitable decommissioning issues, including what to do with wind turbines (towers, machinery and blades) that have reached the end of their lives. This was the subject of a panel discussion on Thursday at the Windaba 2023 conference, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Dorper Wind Farm CEO and GM Mamoso May affirmed that educating people about what would happen at the end of a wind farm’s life should start now. And that education had to be across the wider South African society, not just in the communities adjacent to wind farms.
October 5, 2023 by