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Connection delays increasing demand for standby power

As South Africa’s energy needs rebound on the back of improved economic activity, it is evident that standby power will be needed for the foreseeable future, as the connection of enough embedded generation and renewable-energy projects to the national grid is taking place too slowly. The grid can also not cope with the additional power supply and, thus, with the last bidding round (Round 5) issued by the Independent Power Producers Office, certain projects were not allowed to proceed, particularly in areas such as the Northern Cape, where most existing solar projects are situated or planned for future development, says Economic Development Solutions (EDS) MD Janine Espin.
April 15, 2022 by

Earthlife Africa engages communities on Just Transition Framework

Nonprofit organisation Earthlife Africa is requesting increased grassroots-level engagement and popular education on the energy-related Just Transition Framework to ensure ordinary people in South Africa understand the issues relating to climate change and the just transition.

Over the past few weeks, the Presidential Climate Change (PCC) Commission has started to ramp-up its consultation with communities on a framework pathway for a just transition.

April 14, 2022 by

Becker files for High Court to declare his dismissal unlawful, invalid

Koeberg Alert Alliance (KAA) activist Peter Becker has filed an application in the Cape Town High Court to declare Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe’s decision to dismiss the applicant from his office as director of the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) unlawful and invalid.

Mantashe in January suspended Becker from the NNR board over allegations of misconduct and conflict of interest, before making a final decision on February 25 to dismiss him from the position.

April 14, 2022 by

Eskom warns of load-shedding risk when work week resumes after long weekend

Eskom has indicated that there is a threat of a resumption of load-shedding after the Easter long weekend given its assessment that more than 9 700 MW of capacity is currently “at risk” of tripping in addition to that which is currently unavailable owing to planned or unplanned outages. Generation executive Phillip Dukashe reported on Thursday that there was a plan to use the space created by the falloff in demand over the public holiday weekend to tackle those units that were currently showing signs of being under strain.
April 14, 2022 by

COGTA declares provincial disaster in KZN

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has declared the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) floods, that has claimed the lives of over 200 people and displaced many families, a provincial disaster in line with the Disaster Management Act. President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the province on Wednesday, accompanied by Premier Sihle Zikalala and Cogta Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to see firsthand how the floods affected infrastructure.
April 14, 2022 by

Green hydrogen pioneer seeks finance for commercial plant as Vredendal proof-of-concept …

A small proof-of-concept green hydrogen facility in Vredendal, in the Western Cape, has entered into production and its developers are now seeking to raise finance for a 5 MW commercial project, which they believe could be the precursor to a ‘hydrogen valley’ in the province. The commercial plant would comprise a 10 MW solar photovoltaic facility and a 5 MW hydrogen plant and is expected to involve an investment of R460-million, depending on the cost of the electrolyser units.
April 14, 2022 by

SANEDI helps train 50 young electricians in energy efficiency for building EPCs

The South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) is leading the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Practitioner Skills Programme, in partnership with the Institute of Energy Professionals Africa, to train 50 qualified youth to obtain energy use data required for buildings’ EPCs. EPCs provide buildings a rating based on the amount of energy consumed per square metre.
April 13, 2022 by

Eskom warns another 11 000 MW ‘at risk’ as it extends load-shedding

State-owned electricity producer Eskom warned on Wednesday that there was 11 000 MW of capacity currently “at risk” over and above the more than 13 600 MW out owing to full or partial load losses and the 5 300 MW unavailable owing to planned maintenance. Speaking after the utility again extended load-shedding, which was implemented at extremely short notice on April 11, by a further two days, generation executive Phillip Dukashe said that the number of units at risk of breakdowns was disturbingly high.
April 13, 2022 by