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Age of Electricity is here, IEA declares as it highlights energy security threats

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has declared that the “Age of Electricity is here” in its latest World Energy Outlook, which again underlines that electricity demand will grow much faster than overall energy use in all three scenarios outlined in the report. “Last year, we said the world was moving quickly into the Age of Electricity – and it’s clear today that it has already arrived,” executive director Fatih Birol says, highlighting that rising electricity consumption is no longer limited to emerging and developing economies.
November 12, 2025 by

Growthpoint to provide renewable energy certificates for 26 Nedbank branches that are using its …

JSE-listed real estate investment trust Growthpoint Properties will provide verified renewable energy certificates (RECs) to 26 branches of financial services firm Nedbank that use the power Growthpoint’s renewable energy small-scale embedded generator (SSEG) plants generate. The bank will offset its Scope 2 emissions across the branches located in Growthpoint-owned shopping malls and offices in five provinces, which together cover 8 200 m2 of retail space.
November 7, 2025 by

Ramokgopa chides coal industry for its silence in energy debate

Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has scolded South Africa’s coal industry for remaining largely silent during national debates over the country’s energy future, saying its absence has allowed anti-coal sentiment to dominate public discourse. Speaking at a coal industry colloquium hosted by coal advocacy organisation FFF Carbon, in Johannesburg, on November 7, he said the sector had failed to advocate for its continued role in South Africa’s energy mix.
November 7, 2025 by

Consultancy calls for creation of ‘Just Transition Worker Fund’ to address climate-linked …

Research and consulting firm PBS Development Consulting has recommended the establishment of a dedicated ‘Just Transition Worker Fund’ to ensure South Africa’s climate transition addresses inequality, employment precarity and uneven municipal capacity. Speaking at the Just Transition Labour Centre’s (JTLC’s) inaugural Annual Policy Conference, in Sandton, on November 6, PBS researcher Mamokete Modiba said the fund should enable differentiated access across stakeholders and municipalities, particularly those in rural areas that are less resourced than metropolitan counterparts.
November 7, 2025 by

BESSs can alleviate tariff pressures

Battery systems are now playing a key role in helping industries manage tariff pressures and ensure continuity of operations, says solar and storage solutions provider RenEnergy Africa business development head Juandre Pitout. He says battery energy storage systems (BESSs) are fast becoming a practical tool for South African businesses aiming to lower energy costs and bolster power security.
November 7, 2025 by

Innovation strengthens storage confidence

The growth of renewable energy and large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESSs) across Africa is accelerating, but it also introduces new safety challenges that demand advanced fire protection, warns fire engineering company ASP Fire CEO Michael van Niekerk. The company is helping to address this gap through its partnership with Pyro Brand, which distributes the German-developed PyroBubbles technology in South Africa.
November 7, 2025 by

Cheaper solar power boosts hybrid energy adoption

The decreasing cost of solar infrastructure is driving a rapid shift in how South African businesses approach their energy needs, with renewable energy becoming a central part of strategies to counter loadshedding and rising electricity tariffs. Engineering consultancy SRK Consulting South Africa MD Andrew van Zyl says the affordability of solar power is reshaping the local energy mix and helping companies reduce their exposure to grid disruptions and escalating costs. He adds that the integration of battery energy storage systems (BESS) is further strengthening the value of renewables by allowing businesses to use stored energy when it is most needed.
November 7, 2025 by

Battery energy storage powering Africa toward its next frontier in renewable energy

South Africa’s energy narrative is evolving. Where it was once focused on deploying new renewable power plants to address generation deficits, the conversation has now shifted toward flexibility, the ability to store, shift and dispatch electricity when and where it is needed most, says Pele Green Energy (PGE) GM Nicolas Lecomte. “As renewable-energy capacity grows across the country, maintaining grid stability despite intermittency has become essential. With South Africa moving toward a more decentralised and decarbonised energy system, battery energy storage systems (BESSes), particularly those using lithium-ion technology, are emerging as one of the most critical enablers of this new era.”
November 7, 2025 by