Entries by

Countdown to COP26

Creamer Media’s Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about the final countdown to COP26, the South African government’s negotiating stance and its plans to canvass a just energy transition financing facility.
October 22, 2021 by

Private power generation creates multiple benefits

The South African economy will benefit from the recent change in regulation that enables private organisations to invest in larger power-generation infrastructure, says natural gas producer Renergen. “The economy will benefit through the upfront monetary expenditure by private companies on power generation equipment, and the money paid to external service providers to install such equipment, as opposed to paying for grid power,” says Renergen CEO Stefano Marani.
October 22, 2021 by

Repurposed EV batteries aids in power storage

Energy storage solutions are a viable approach in assisting with embedded-electricity solutions, and one such solution is using repurposed electric vehicle (EV) battery cells, battery equipment supplier REVOV tells Engineering News. “Automotive-grade cells are manufactured specifically for use in the harsh environment of a motor vehicle. This includes being mobile, as well as being subjected to continuous vibrations, high temperatures and high charge and discharge currents to optimise charge time versus distance versus speed,” explains REVOV MD Lance Dickerson.
October 22, 2021 by

New methods, technology key in driving net zero goal

The South African road infrastructure and construction industry can learn from international markets and apply several key lessons on its journey to achieving the goal of net zero, ensuring a balance between emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere, says consulting engineers WSP in Africa highways, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and rail director Marshall Muthen.
October 22, 2021 by

Technologies play powerful role in climate change efforts

Technology is a critical accelerator in the efforts to implement climate change actions, and according to South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) energy efficiency and data & knowledge management GM Barry Bredenkamp, there is a major shift in the design of energy-consuming products, as developers are taking the potential impacts of climate change into consideration.
October 22, 2021 by

Going ‘off the grid’ can have consequences

The recent announcement by the President to lift the limit on the self-generation of power from 1 MW to 100 MW, is a gamechanger for industries such as mining, farming, retail, healthcare and manufacturing. Off the back of this announcement, some companies such as private hospital groups have already secured deals to install solar photovoltaic (PV) generating systems to save costs and relieve pressure on the national grid. 
October 22, 2021 by

Positive outcome from government’s amendment to embedded generation

Renewable energy producer Genesis Eco Energy states that the promulgation of the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA) amendment, gazetted August 20, 2021, surprised many. “Business had been calling for an increase from the 1 MW limitation for years but the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy would only consider a move to 10 MW. Industry leaders wanted a 50 MW limit increase, so the giant leap to 100 MW was highly welcomed throughout the private sector and by renewable energy independent power producers (IPPs),” says Genesis Eco Energy project development executive Glynis Coetzee.
October 22, 2021 by

Development pipeline increased to 9 GW

With renewable energy developer Mainstream Renewable Power (RP) already responsible for developing wind and solar assets contributing 850 MW of power to South Africa’s grid, the company is currently involved in developing new projects that will contribute up to 9 GW of power to the grid. “Currently, we are in the developmental stages of about 9 GW in wind and solar energy projects across almost all provinces, all of which are in various stages of development,” says Mainstream RP Africa GM Hein Reyneke.
October 22, 2021 by

Company provides renewable energy solutions

Last year, South African engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company Lesedi Nuclear Services (LNS) established a 100% held subsidiary called Lesedi Renewables Africa (RA) to offer tailormade renewable solutions to clients. Lesedi RA is technology agnostic and offers appropriate technologies, hybrid solutions incorporating a range of solar technology options, coupled with storage that meets clients’ individual requirements. These solutions are available under the embedded generation programme in South Africa.
October 22, 2021 by