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Eskom to release Mpumalanga land to catalyse investments in sub-100 MW renewables projects

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has announced that Eskom is preparing to release land in the coal-rich Mpumalanga province for sub-100 MW distributed electricity projects that can now be built without a licence and wheel electricity through the grid for self-consumption, or for sale to third-party consumers. Speaking during the State-owned utility’s interim results presentation, Gordhan said that Eskom owned about 36 000 ha of unutilised land in Mpumalanga, including in and around eMalahleni, which had also been designated as a Renewable Energy Development Zone.
December 15, 2021 by

REIPPPP Bid Window 5 to provide important link in local value chain

Wind turbine original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) Nordex Energy South Africa sees Bid Window 5 (BW5) of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) as an important link in driving the local value chain, saying it will directly stimulate the domestic job market.

MD Compton Saunders says the wind power industry is expected to drive an estimated R40-billion of investment each year over the next decade, with a fairly large percentage to come from the economic benefits of stimulating the local value chain.

December 15, 2021 by

DMRE releases Gas Masterplan base case report

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has released the Gas Masterplan base case report for public comment.

The Gas Masterplan, once developed, will serve as a policy instrument, providing a roadmap for taking strategic, political and institutional decisions, which will guide industry investment planning and coordinated implementation.

December 15, 2021 by

Ellies reports first-half loss in earnings despite load-shedding boom

JSE-listed diversified electronic and alternative energy products manufacturer and distributor Ellies, impacted by global and local supply chain challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the July civil unrest and weak trading conditions, has reported a loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of R19.5-million for the six months ended October 31.

This is attributable to a 38.2% decrease in gross profit when compared with the comparative reporting period of 2020.

December 15, 2021 by

Building owners have one year left to obtain energy performance certificates

Owners of buildings in South Africa have one year left to obtain and prominently display an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or risk a fine of R5-million, five years imprisonment or both. The regulations, under the National Energy Act, were gazetted a year ago and apply until December 7, 2022, meaning that building owners who have not acted have a year left in which to comply.
December 14, 2021 by

HSBC says it will phase out financing of thermal coal by 2040

HSBC Holdings is planning to phase out the financing of coal used for generating electricity by 2040, the latest bank to commit to ending support for the greenhouse gas-intensive fossil fuel. The London-based lender will stop financing thermal coal in the European Union and countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development by 2030, and all other nations a decade later, according to a statement Tuesday. Clients related to the energy source are expected to publish transition plans and those that aren’t compatible with HSBC’s goal to reach net-zero by the middle of the century won’t be provided with new finance.
December 14, 2021 by

Eskom to engage on way forward after being denied permission to delay air-quality compliance

Eskom says the decision by government to refuse several applications for the postponement of the implementation of some of the air quality compliance timelines set in legislation will result in the immediate shutting of 16 000 MW of capacity and have a “very significant impact on Eskom’s ability to provide electricity”. It is, thus, proposing an engagement with stakeholders on the “way forward”.
December 14, 2021 by

Scatec to deliver two hybrid energy plants in Cameroon

Renewable energy company Scatec has entered into a lease agreement with electricity company Eneo in Cameroon to deliver two hybrid solar and storage plants totalling 36 MW solar and 20 MW/19 MWh storage. The plants will supply low-cost, clean and reliable electricity in Maroua and Guider in the Grand-North of Cameroon, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is partnering with Scatec’s Release to realise these redeployable projects. 
December 13, 2021 by

Standard Bank issues green, social bonds to finance renewable, housing projects in South Africa

Financial services firm Standard Bank has issued its first local Tier 2 capital qualifying green bond to finance renewable energy projects in South Africa and increased its social bond issued in August to finance mortgage loans in the affordable housing target market, with a focus on women borrowers. The new ten-year, R1.4-billion bond is listed on the JSE Sustainability segment and proceeds will be used to finance renewable energy projects in South Africa.
December 13, 2021 by