Author Archive for: Engineering News

Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter insisted on Monday that, despite a recent return to load-shedding, progress was being made on the utility’s so-called reliability maintenance programme to improve the performance of the coal fleet to the point where the risk of rotational power cuts would be materially reduced by September. He stressed, however, that the load-shedding threat would not be entirely eliminated until the prevailing generation supply shortfall of some 4 000 MW was addressed through large-scale new investments in generation capacity – a shortfall that would expand should the South Africa economy begin growing again.

In this opinion piece, South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) GM Barry Bredenkamp writes about steps electricity users can take to reduce demand as load-shedding continues. Since Eskom cannot meet the country’s demand for electricity, load-shedding is likely to be with us for the rest of the year, at least. However, there are steps every electricity user can and should take to decrease demand for electricity and thereby reduce the risk of load shedding.

International energy and climate leaders from the world’s largest economies will take part in the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Conference of the Parties 26 (COP26’s) Net Zero Summit later this month to accelerate the momentum behind clean energy and examine how countries could work together more effectively to reduce their greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions to net zero in line with shared international goals. Co-hosted by IEA executive director Fatih Birol and COP26 president Alok Sharma, the Net Zero Summit is a critical milestone on the road to COP26 in Glasgow in November.

A mixture of Covid-19 restrictions and related subdued consumer behaviour and poor national grid electricity stability are impacting on small businesses chances of survival, states South African Solar Photovoltaic Industry (SAPVIA) COO Niveshen Govender.

He notes that South Africa’s economic future depends on the lights staying on, especially at a time when the national power utility Eskom has again been implementing load-shedding.

In this opinion piece, South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) COO Niveshen Govender points out that proposed changes to the electricity tariffs charged by Eskom  shows that the utility is moving to a more proactive position that responds to the needs of consumers but also ensures increased uptake of alternative energy connections in a responsible way. Over the years, criticising Eskom has become quite the pastime for many South African commentators. While the State-owned utility is not immune from criticism, this time, Eskom is taking necessary, proactive, and productive steps to respond to the country’s changing energy environment.