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Global citrus demand increases refrigeration demand

A global increase in demand for South African-grown citrus, as well as more export regulations, has resulted in a substantial increase in demand for refrigeration capacity, says local refrigeration manufacturer EP Refrigeration business development head Dawie Kriel. “We not only need to add refrigerated storage space but also improve refrigerated transport capacity,” he tells Engineering News.
September 17, 2021 by

Company can cater to high retrofitting demand

Software solutions provider ABB Electrification has experienced high demand from the local market for energy-efficient systems related to integrating automation into electrical and mechanical systems, particularly in terms of retrofitting these products into older buildings. “These energy-efficient systems have been around for many years, but until last year, they were pushed aside locally as they were often too expensive. Going forward, energy-efficient systems can be a lot more easily adopted,” explains ABB Electrification product marketing specialist Yuri Ramsamy.
September 17, 2021 by

Association releases new training manual

Last month, South African Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (Saracca) released its updated training manual, which will be implemented, from this month onwards, by heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R) training providers throughout South Africa. Saracca director Barney Richardson tells Engineering News that the new manual is part of the association’s continuous efforts to maintain skills levels in the HVAC-R sector.
September 17, 2021 by

GE Renewables, Fraunhofer enter research partnership for 3D printing for wind applications

NYSE-listed GE Renewable Energy, research institute Fraunhofer IGCV and 3D printing systems manufacturer voxeljet have entered into a research partnership aimed at developing the world’s largest three-dimensional (3D) printer for offshore wind applications in order to streamline the production of key components of GE’s Haliade-X offshore wind turbine. The partners expect to launch the project during the third quarter of this year, with initial printer trials to start in the first quarter of 2022.  
September 16, 2021 by

Global alliance for sustainable energy formed 

A group of global leaders from across the renewable energy value chain and the sector’s innovation ecosystem on September 16 launched a new organisation aimed at ensuring renewables are wholly sustainable for people and the planet and lead a just transition away from fossil fuels. The partners, united in a shared vision for the sustainability of the renewables industry and the need to take concrete, collaborative action, have come together to create the Global Alliance for Sustainable Energy.
September 16, 2021 by

Zimbabwe turns to Mozambique, Zambia to Ease 12-Hour Power Cuts

Zimbabwe asked Mozambique and Zambia to supply it with more electricity as it tries to fill a power shortfall that’s led to outages of 12 hours a day. “We are in discussions with Mozambique for the recently commissioned power plants to give us an additional 180 MW,” Energy Minister Soda Zhemu told lawmakers Wednesday, according to a transcript on parliament’s website. “We are also at final stage of discussion with Zambia to get an additional 100 MW”.
September 16, 2021 by

Kibo Energy invests in UK waste-to-energy project

JSE-listed renewable energy company Kibo Energy has signed a heads of terms with Aim-listed gasification solutions company EQTEC to acquire a 54.54% interest in the proposed 25 MW Billingham waste gasification and power plant at Haverton Hill, in Teesside, in the UK. It is expected that Kibo will acquire a 54.54% equity stake in the project special-purpose vehicle (SPV).
September 16, 2021 by

South Africa’s battery energy storage market poised for growth

A South African energy project finance specialist estimates that the country’s near-term battery energy storage project pipeline could grow to about R53-billion over the coming three years, potentially making the country one of the largest adopters of such systems globally. The estimate includes assumptions not catered for in the country’s Integrated Resource Plan of 2019 (IRP 2019), however, and also assumes large growth in private battery storage investment.
September 16, 2021 by

UN council urges Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan to restart dam talks

The UN Security Council on Wednesday urged Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan to resume African Union-led talks to reach a binding deal “within a reasonable timeframe” over the operation of a giant hydropower dam on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia. Egypt and Sudan had both called on the council to help resolve the dispute after Ethiopia began filling the reservoir behind its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in July for a second year. Ethiopia is opposed to any council involvement.
September 16, 2021 by