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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

Raubex anticipates more than 200% increase in earnings a share

JSE-listed construction materials supplier Raubex expects its earnings a share for the financial year ended February 28 to be at least 231% higher year-on-year, while its headline earnings a share are expected to be at least 250% higher year-on-year.

The company had posted earnings a share and headline earnings a share of 87.4c and 81.9c, respectively, in the prior financial year.

March 28, 2022 by

South Africa’s electricity plan ‘underestimating’ new generation needs, former Eskom CEO warns

South Africa’s current Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) is significantly underestimating what new capacity should be being built to cater for the decommissioning of the coal-fired power stations and any future demand growth, African Rainbow Energy and Power (AREP) CEO Brian Dames has warned. Speaking during a breakaway session on energy at the recent South Africa Investment Conference, the former Eskom CEO argued that the plan – published in late 2019 and which energy commentors frequently describe as being sorely out of date – “should be a lot more aggressive”.
March 25, 2022 by

Investment group suggests nuclear could form part of country’s future energy mix

South African specialist investment company Futuregrowth Asset Management has expressed the view that nuclear power “should not be dismissed outright” as a long-term contributor to the country’s electricity generation system. Futuregrowth currently manages assets worth some R193-billion, or about $12-billion (these being the values on December 31 last year). In an ‘Insight’ note published on Thursday, Investment Analyst Bongile James and Portfolio Manager Paul Semple acknowledged concerns in South Africa regarding the construction of new nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the country. “Nuclear power as a long-term solution to our energy woes is a sensitive topic, partly due to the ramifications for our country of the substandard design and poor build quality of [the new and coal-fired] Medupi and Kusile, the last mega-power plants constructed in SA investmentSouth Africa,” they noted. “There are also concerns about Eskom’s ability to procure, build an operate a new nuclear power project.”
March 25, 2022 by

TIPS says broader, engaged development approaches needed to realise just transition projects

Research institution Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) has unpacked how just energy transition (JET) projects require a different approach to planning, financing and development, away from the traditional model.

Addressing delegates during a webinar on March 24, TIPS senior economist Gaylor Montmasson-Clair pointed out that tools for just transition projects were different to those used for traditional energy projects, and, as it stands, not enough on-the-ground thinking is being done to realise successful projects.

March 25, 2022 by

TIPS says broader, engaging development approaches needed to realise just transition projects

Research institution Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) has unpacked how just energy transition (JET) projects require a different approach to planning, financing and development, away from the traditional model.

Addressing delegates during a webinar on March 24, TIPS senior economist Gaylor Montmasson-Clair pointed out that tools for just transition projects were different to those used for traditional energy projects, and, as it stands, not enough on-the-ground thinking is being done to realise successful projects.

March 25, 2022 by

Project management skills vital for local energy transition

Project management skills are imperative to ensure that South Africa’s clean energy transition is successful, says organisation National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) president Mdu Mlaba and nonprofit organisation Project Management Institute (PMI) business development lead George Asamani. Mlaba explains that the energy transition will bring about new energy initiatives, such as green hydrogen projects, which will, consequently, create opportunities for project managers in the renewable-energy, oil, gas and clean hydrogen space.
March 25, 2022 by

SA faces challenges in energy transition

South Africa is struggling to address the energy security and economic imperatives of the national energy requirements, owing to the delay in implementation of new capacity additions and  the reduced energy availability factor and poor performance of its coal fleet, says Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) senior researcher Aradhna Pandarum. The reduced energy availability factor and poor performance of South Africa’s coal-fired power stations is negatively impacting on the country’s ability to implement the planned coal fleet decommissioning schedule outlined in the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan.
March 25, 2022 by

Lithium-ion batteries assisting energy transition

Cape Town-based energy equipment and solutions provider Solar MD is expanding its production capabilities for South Africa to meet the expected demand for renewable-energy solutions, owing to the country’s anticipated energy transition. “Our current manufacturing capacity is 180 MWh/y and we expect to double this capacity over the next six to nine months,” says Solar MD CEO Kaloyan Dimov.
March 25, 2022 by