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Ekurhuleni approves connection of PepsiCo’s large solar-powered microgrid

The Ekurhuleni Municipality has approved the connection of a large solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and battery system at food and beverage company PepsiCo Sub-Saharan Africa’s (SSA’s) large distribution centre, near Kempton Park. The new PV and lithium-ion battery system will form one of South Africa’s largest microgrids, comprising a 1.8 MW solar PV facility alongside a 2.9 MWh battery, while being grid-connected to stabilise the local grid. 
March 30, 2022 by

Joburg can create more than 200 000 green jobs in infrastructure and climate adaptation

Investment by the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) in rail infrastructure would create 76 000 jobs, while prioritising environment-friendly construction in city projects would create 143 000 green jobs by 2030, CoJ Environment and Infrastructure Services mayoral committee member Michael Sun has said, citing the results of research conducted by cities climate change network C40 Cities. The city’s multi-party government has committed to spurring a just economic transition within the city’s economy and to ensure all residents at risk of losing a job in non-green industries are given opportunities to work in other sectors essential to a sustainable economy and society.
March 30, 2022 by

Africa has prime opportunity to provide commodities usually supplied by Russia

As Western Europe accelerates a structural transition away from Russian energy dependence, Africa will play a salient role in filling this void, says Oxford Economics Africa (OEA). During a webinar on March 29, the research company unpacked how a more pressing shift towards renewable energy and a reduction on Russian hydrocarbon dependence will increase demand for African renewable and non-renewable resources.
March 29, 2022 by

Renewable-energy transition ‘only true path to energy security’

The renewable energy transition “is the only true path to energy security”, United Nations secretary-general António Guterres has asserted, adding that the current energy crisis, precipitated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, underlined the need to accelerate rather than slow the transition. In a recorded address to the 2022 edition of the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue (BETD), Guterres warned that the world was not on track to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality by mid-century, or limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C.
March 29, 2022 by

Green, just transition investment has potential to create 1.8m jobs in South Africa by 2030

Investing in South African cities as part of a green and just recovery from the pandemic can create and support 1.8-million green jobs by 2030, with nearly 1.1-million of those jobs in the buildings, power and sustainable transport sectors. A further 674 000 jobs can be generated and supported locally within cities. Investing in adaptation and nature-based solutions to tackle extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, can produce an additional 705 000 sustainable jobs across the country.
March 29, 2022 by

Dornier-Suntrace optimistic about South Africa’s renewable energy development

South Africa’s economy has had to deal with bouts of load-shedding since 2008 while the procurement of new renewables capacity under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) was delayed for a number of years, but renewable energy company Dornier-Suntrace is optimistic about the country’s clean energy prospects going forward.

CEO Boris Westphal, who has been involved in the local renewable energy industry since 2010, says the REIPPPP was one of the most successful energy auction programmes globally up to 2014 when it was stalled.

March 29, 2022 by

Global energy supply crisis can be ameliorated through greater focus on energy efficiency, says …

There are fears of a global energy supply crisis affecting electricity and fuel security, precipitated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while uncertainty around oil supply from Russia, which is the world’s third-largest producer, has sent the oil price soaring. Further, with efforts by European countries to reduce their reliance on Russian gas, energy efficiency will become the single most effective tool to remedy high demand and low capacity or supply, says South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) energy efficiency and corporate communications GM Barry Bredenkamp.
March 28, 2022 by

Scatec project development VP Pilskop to succeed Carlsen as CEO

Renewable energy company Scatec has promoted project development executive VP Terje Pilskog to CEO, effective May 1, when incumbent Raymond Carlsen will step down after a 13-year tenure. “Pilskog has been instrumental in the strategic development of Scatec and has first-hand experience with both the commercial and operational aspects of the company. We are confident he is the right man to continue the development of Scatec as a . . . provider of renewable energy solutions globally,” said Scatec chairperson John Andersen Jr on March 28.
March 28, 2022 by