Entries by

SAPVIA adds voice of support for 100 MW distributed generation licensing-exemption threshold

The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has added its voice to the growing number of supportive voices following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that the licensing threshold for embedded generation plants will increase to 100 MW. In welcoming the news, SAPVIA believes this increase will be viewed as a watershed moment for industry in South Africa, especially as the country works to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
June 17, 2021 by

Emergency power fiasco compounds South Africa’s energy crisis

The debacle surrounding South Africa’s bid to secure emergency power supplies has highlighted a dysfunctional energy policy that’s subjecting Africa’s most-industrialized nation to intermittent blackouts. Since March, the energy department has identified companies it wants to provide almost 2 000 MW of electricity to the grid by August next year. But a losing bidder has alleged that the selection process was corrupt and sought to reverse it in court, environmental activists have raised objections and lawyers are at odds over whether ship-based power plants can be moored in the nation’s ports.
June 17, 2021 by

Large methane leak detected over South Africa coal mining region

A cloud of methane was detected by satellite near coal mines in South Africa, drawing attention to a lesser-known environmental risk that comes from using the dirtiest fossil fuel. The potent greenhouse gas — methane traps roughly 84 times more heat than carbon dioxide in its first two decades in the atmosphere — was emitted at an estimated rate of 65 metric tons an hour on May 10, according to Kayrros SAS. The Paris-based analytics company found the leak by parsing European Space Agency satellite observations. It was the worst plume of methane Kayrros detected in the data over Africa this year.
June 16, 2021 by

Fourth international WindAc Africa conference to be held in October

The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) will host the fourth international academic wind energy conference – WindAc Africa 2021 – at the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre’s conference centre, in Cape Town, from October 5 to 7. This academic exchange platform offers a special programme for high-potential young people from South African universities and the organisers are hoping to welcome 45 sponsored students at this year’s event.
June 15, 2021 by

Mediclinic signs 12-year solar power purchase agreement

Private healthcare and hospital company Mediclinic on June 15 announced that it had signed a 12-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with sustainable infrastructure investment fund manager Moshesh Partners, to reduce the hospital group’s energy costs. Mediclinic, based in South Africa and Namibia, contracted Moshesh Partners to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at six of its hospitals. This will ensure the hospitals have access to affordable and clean power.
June 15, 2021 by

Global stock-taking report points to only modest renewables gains in total final energy consumption

A new international stock-take of the global transition to renewable energy highlights an “alarming gap between targets and actions” with the share of fossil fuels in energy consumption failing to decrease for the tenth consecutive year in 2020, despite a 4% Covid-linked fall in demand. Published by REN21, the ‘Renewables 2021 Global Status Report’ shows that modern renewable energy (excluding the traditional use of biomass) accounted for an estimated 11.2% of total final energy consumption (TFEC), up from 8.7% a decade earlier.
June 15, 2021 by

VW CEO chides G7 Leaders for failing to set coal phase-out date

Volkswagen’s CEO criticized Group of Seven (G7) leaders for failing to set a firm date to phase out coal power, saying it’s senseless to let electric vehicles run on dirty energy. “That’s not enough, @G7. Disappointing outcome,” VW CEO Herbert Diess tweeted Tuesday. “We need to exit coal much earlier! EVs are key to reach the climate goals 2030. But EVs only make sense with green energy, letting EVs run on coal is regulatory nonsense.”
June 15, 2021 by

Iron-ore billionaire sets sights on reviving Congo’s hydro vision

Iron-ore magnate Andrew Forrest is looking to help revive a long-delayed multi-billion dollar hydroelectric project in Africa as part of his strategy to move into green energy. His Fortescue Metals Group has held talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for exclusive rights to develop the Grand Inga suite of projects, the Perth-based company said in a statement Tuesday, although no formal binding agreement had been yet concluded.
June 15, 2021 by

Reinvestment in South Africa needed to ‘plant the seeds’ for a better future, says Exxaro

Reinvestment is needed to “plant the seeds” and create a better future for South Africa, says diversified miner Exxaro Resources projects and technology executive head Johan Meyer. This is especially critical considering that Covid-19 has made it more challenging to secure investments, but also when taking South Africa’s energy and electricity supply challenges into account.
June 15, 2021 by