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SA can add 30GW of wind energy in 10 years, but grid challenges will be our undoing – expert

A recent survey shows there are about 30GW of wind energy projects in various stages of development. While South Africa has the skills to support the rollout of this generation capacity, the lack of grid capacity is the biggest hurdle in deploying the renewables, according to an industry expert. Niveshen Govender, CEO of the South African Wind Energy Association (Sawea), expressed optimism that wind generation capacity would increase tenfold from the current 3.4GW installed currently. He was citing the Renewable Energy Grid Survey, which was presented by Eskom officials to both the solar PV and wind energy associations earlier this month.
June 19, 2023 by

Eskom issues tender to implement socioeconomic development plan at Komati

State-owned power utility Eskom has issued a tender seeking a service provider to drive the Komati Power Station socioeconomic development plan to assist with the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Part of the plan includes the management and implementation of mitigation measures for the socioeconomic impacts resulting from the shutdown of the coal-fired generating units at Eskom’s Komati Power Station. The last of the coal-fired units at Komati reached its end of operational life in October 2022 and was shut down.
June 19, 2023 by

South Africa seeks a way to allow Eskom to take on green debt

South Africa’s finance ministry has appointed a consultant to come up with a plan by August to allow utility Eskom to accept-billions in loans designed to help it cut its carbon emissions when the government has blocked it from taking on new debt. Wealthy nations, including Britain, France, Germany, the European Union and the United States, committed $8.5-billion at UN climate talks in November 2021 to help South Africa cut its emissions and accelerate a shift from coal, which provides most of its electricity generation.
June 15, 2023 by

Cape Town’s draft energy strategy sets goal of adding 650 MW within five years

Cape Town’s energy strategy, which has been released for public comment, envisages the addition of 650 MW of new independent generation within five years in line with the city’s stated goal of protecting itself against four stages of loadshedding by 2026. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis indicates that the new supply will be secured from various sources, including from city-owned generators, independent power producers (IPPs), from residents and businesses feeding into the grid, as well as through wheeling and trading.
June 14, 2023 by

China, South Africa to strengthen new energy investments, cooperation

China and South Africa will deepen cooperation, trade and investment in new energy technologies to help South Africa overcome its energy challenges and reignite its economic growth. During the China-South Africa New Energy Investment and Cooperation conference, held in Sandton, on June 13, South Africa’s ambassador to China Siyabonga Cwele emphasised that the countries had reached a consensus on several global issues, including green or sustainable development, the digital economy, the just energy transition, technology exchange and skills required for the future.
June 13, 2023 by

UK announces funding for the development of space-based solar power technologies

The UK Government has announced that it awarding funding of £4.3-million (about R100.66-million) to seven British universities and technology companies to develop technologies necessary to create a space-based solar power (SBSP) sector, to provide the country with green energy. Of the funding, £3.3-million (some R77.25-million) will be provided by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, while the rest will come from the UK Space Agency. SBSP would see large solar arrays deployed in space, generating electricity, which would then be transmitted down to Earth, using wireless (microwave) technology, in a safe manner, and introduced into terrestrial transmission grids. Space-based solar arrays would be in sunlight for 99% of the time.
June 13, 2023 by

Manufacturers, free trade can help to overcome Africa’s energy crisis

African manufacturers have a significant role to play in helping to remedy the continent’s energy crises by developing innovative solutions for energy storage and access. By creating products tailored to the needs of the African context, manufacturers can help reduce energy poverty, increase energy efficiency and spur economic growth. However, this depends on whether the right environment is created to help manufacturers expand operations and pursue cross-border investment opportunities, electromechanical equipment manufacturer Actom Group CEO and Manufacturing Circle chairperson Mervyn Naidoo says.
June 12, 2023 by

Presidency outlines criteria to be used before revising coal decommissioning schedule

The Presidency has moved to outline the criteria that will be used before any decision is made to delay the decommissioning of certain coal-fired power stations to take account of the prevailing supply deficit and has also dismissed suggestions that there is any plan to extend the life of the stations. Addressing the Presidential Planning Commission (PCC) on June 9, project management office head Rudi Dicks acknowledged that the decision to potentially revise the schedule had raised questions both domestically and with the International Partners Group that had agreed to provide $8.5-billion-worth of concessional finding to support South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP).
June 9, 2023 by

City of Cape Town aims to reduce SSEG application turnaround times

The City of Cape Town aims to reduce the turnaround time of applications for small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) systems by allocating more resources to deal with the applications, switching to an online application system and simplifying the customer experience. With the big uptake in solar photovoltaic (PV) and batteries owing to loadshedding, there has also been an increase in fly-by-night operators. Many of these systems are not wired correctly or are inferior, contributing to the extended power outages the city is experiencing following load-shedding. The city wants to ensure customers are not negatively impacted, it said in a statement.
June 9, 2023 by