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AfDB approves $9.72m grant to modernise African hydropower

The African Development Bank- (AfDB)-managed Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), on November 21, approved a $9.72-million grant to scale up the Africa Hydropower Modernisation Programme (AHMP) – a one-stop shop that overhauls African hydropower systems to enhance their reliability and flexibility.

With this new funding, AHMP will expand the modernisation of a pipeline of 12 private-sector-led projects in eight countries selected through a competitive process.
December 19, 2023 by

Eskom Soot Pollution is at a 31-year-high, 42 Times Worse Than China

Coal-fired power plants operated by South Africa’s state utility are emitting pollutants that primarily cause respiratory diseases such as asthma at almost 42 times the intensity of those in China.

Eskom Holdings, in the second week of December, said in the six months through September, particulate matter emissions deteriorated to 0.92 kg per MWh sent out – the highest since 1992, according to the utility.

December 19, 2023 by

Nersa grants Envusa Energy trading licence

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has approved an electricity trading licence for Envusa Energy – a joint venture between diversified miner Anglo-American and renewable energy company EDF Renewables South Africa (EDF).

In November, Envusa lodged an application for a licence to trade electricity in South Africa’s Northern Cape, North West, Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces over the Eskom network.

December 18, 2023 by

DMRE extends public commentary for draft SANPC Bill

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has extended the timeframe for submissions of public comments on the draft South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC) Bill, published in government gazette number 49711, of November 13, to January 15, 2024.
 
The Bill, according to the DMRE, aims to establish the SANPC, ensure proper governance and to consolidate and transfer assets of the company in line with the relevant legislation, with the DMRE Minister – currently Gwede Mantashe – as the sole shareholder of the company.
December 18, 2023 by

Solar-powered e-truck sets new altitude record

A team of explorers – the Gebrüder Weiss Peak Evolution Team – followed through on successfully setting a new world altitude record for electric vehicles after driving an electric truck to an altitude of 6 500 m above sea level, mid-December.

The team drove up to the western ridge of Ojos del Salado, in Chile – the highest active volcano on Earth – in their truck powered exclusively by solar energy.

December 18, 2023 by

Construction of 216 MW solar, 500 MWh battery plant starts

The construction of a major hybrid renewables project in South Africa, comprising a 216 MW solar plant and a 500 MWh battery storage system to manage the intermittency of solar production, has been launched by diversified energy company TotalEnergies and its partners.

The project, located in the Northern Cape, will supply dispatchable renewable electricity to the South African national grid for 20 years, equivalent to over 400 GWh a year.

December 18, 2023 by

Project achieves financial close

Independent power producer EDF Renewables achieved commercial and financial close on its Umoyilanga project on November 28, 2023, reaching commercial close with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), and then concluding financial close with financial institutions Nedbank, RMB and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. This was consequent to its attaining legal close on August 30, 2023, with the signing of the power purchase agreement (PPA) with State-owned power utility Eskom, and the implementation agreement (IA) with the DMRE, for the hybrid renewable-power facility to be built in South Africa.
December 15, 2023 by

Energy company driving global move to renewables

In South Africa, global renewable-power producer Scatec has initiated numerous projects under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme contributing towards a more sustainable energy grid. The company says that as a major player in the renewables space, its role extends beyond simply providing renewable-energy solutions.
December 15, 2023 by

Nedbank, Norfund to lend Pele Green R2.5bn for renewable power plants

Pele Green Energy has secured R2.5-billion in funding from lenders including Nedbank Group to help it build renewable power plants including one ordered by Anglo American Platinum. The other creditors include Norfund and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), development finance institutions owned by the governments of Norway and South Africa respectively, said Gqi Raoleka, Pele’s MD. Nedbank will provide R1-billion, the IDC R829-million and Norfund R658-million.
December 14, 2023 by

South Africa moves to procure 5GW of renewables, 2GW of gas-to-power, 615 MW of battery storage

The South African government has released three requests for proposals (RFPs) for new electricity generation and storage capacity, including 5 000 MW of new wind and solar, 2 000 MW of gas-to-power and 615 MW/2 460 MWh of battery storage. Under the much anticipated and delayed seventh bid window (BW7) of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) is seeking bids by April 30 for the development of 3 200 MW of wind and 1 800 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV).
December 14, 2023 by