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Cooling equipment to increase energy efficiency of data centres

There is a significant push to provide energy efficient technologies for data centre applications to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce energy costs. Consequently, data centres can save significantly in terms of energy and associated costs by ensuring their cooling solutions are designed correctly with reputable internationally recognised brands, says power solutions provider Master Power Technologies (MPT) sales and marketing manager Rory Reid.

Company releases efficient lighting range

Lighting technology manufacturer BEKA Schréder last month announced the launch of the ECOBAY, a light-emitting-diode (LED) lighting range with a high return on investment. According to BEKA Schréder, ECOBAY is the ideal luminaire for lighting industrial facilities at optimised light levels, and delivers the best solution for lowbay and highbay applications.

Noticeable growth in smart home market

There has been noteworthy growth in the local smart home and building automation market in the past three years, owing to the growing demand for energy efficiency, says automation solutions provider ElectroMechanica (EM) product manager Ryan Whitelaw. EM has focused on expanding its product offering and supplying products and solutions to these growing markets to meet the demand for increased energy efficiency.

Pandemic prompts local focus on energy efficiency

Owing to Covid-19, the South African National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi) has witnessed an increase in the number of new applications from companies for the Section 12L Energy Efficiency tax incentive. “With companies aiming to be competitive under the pandemic and remain in business, they are left with little choice but to improve operations and become more energy efficient,” says Sanedi GM Barry Bredenkamp.

Shift in strategy to maximise offering

Bearings manufacturer and distributor SKF held a virtual webinar last month to discuss the company’s three-pronged strategy shift to better meet client requirements.  “The strategy has encouraged every part of the company to rethink the way it works, especially SKF’s core research and development (R&D) functions,” said SKF chief technology officer and innovation and business development president Dr Victoria van Camp during the webinar.

Eskom says it needs R23bn more from tariffs in 2021 to remain a going concern

State-owned electricity utility Eskom argued on Thursday that it required additional revenue of R23-billion for the upcoming financial year to remain a going concern and told the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) that further tariff increases, beyond the 5.22% already approved for next year, were required to enable it to migrate to financial sustainability.   Nersa is currently hosting public hearings as part of its deliberations on how to implement a regulatory clearing account (RCA) balance that had already been approved, as well as how it should respond to supplementary applications by Eskom arising from two recent adverse court rulings.

SAPVIA launches solar platform for solar PV professionals

Industry organisation the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) has launched a new platform, the PV Professionals (PVP) platform, in a move it hopes will improve the representation of professionals in the solar PV industry, as well as unify its players. The organisation describes the platform as a pioneer in the South African solar industry and one that will develop the capacity and professionalism of South African PV professionals.

Germany examines ammonia to deliver green fuel for industry

Germany is looking at using ammonia and methanol as ways to deliver hydrogen as a clean-burning fuel for industry, part of its effort to make Europe’s biggest economy climate-neutral by 2050. The government is financing a feasibility study to evaluate ways of transporting hydrogen and is focusing on the two chemicals as a possible solution, according to Stefan Kaufmann, a member of Germany’s parliament who is responsible for coordinating the use of green hydrogen in Germany.

French firms set to make R14bn in fresh investment pledges to South Africa

French Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness Minister Franck Riester, who is leading a business delegation to South Africa this week, reports that French firms will follow-up their R20-billion in investment commitments made to South Africa in 2019 with new promises worth a further R14-billion. French companies made pledges worth a combined R20-billion during the second yearly South Africa Investment Conference, which took place in Sandton, Gauteng, in November last year.