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DBSA appoints Rakgate to head Infrastructure Fund

The State-owned Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has, from October 1, appointed Mohale Rakgate as its new group executive for the Infrastructure Fund, which has been established by government to support an accelerated roll-out of economic and social infrastructure. Infrastructure is expected to feature strongly in South Africa’s economic recovery plan, which will be considered by Cabinet following consultations with business, labour and community representative at the National Economic Development and Labour Council in August and September.
October 5, 2020 by

Spanish solar tracking group establishes formal presence in South Africa

Spanish solar tracker and structures specialist STI Norland has, since the start of October, established an active presence in South Africa, which it views as an attractive market for utility scale solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. An office and warehouse facility is being established in Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape, and STI Norland South Africa is headed by Duncan Palmer, who has been appointed as CEO.
October 5, 2020 by

City of Cape Town drafting ‘mini IRP’ as it prepares way for IPP procurement

The City of Cape Town, which has been pushing for the right of municipalities to procure electricity directly from independent power producers (IPPs) for several years, is currently compiling what it describes as a “mini” integrated resource plan (IRP) to guide its future procurement decisions and actions. Energy and climate change executive director Kadri Nassiep reports that the city has contracted the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research to develop the mini IRP, which he says should be completed within six to eight months.
October 2, 2020 by

Wind industry ready for surplus energy procurement

The local wind energy industry is “eagerly anticipating a growth phase”, as the approved Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019 allocates 14.4 GW of wind power that needs to be added to the local energy mix from 2022. “This requires government to move swiftly in announcing the next round of procurement to create investor confidence in the wind energy industry, as well as address the current energy crisis in the country,” says South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) CEO Ntombifuthi Ntuli.
October 2, 2020 by

Microgrids present ideal platform for wind energy

Using microgrids offers an ideal platform for renewable-energy sources, such as wind energy, to be used more extensively, says turnkey energy project solutions provider SEM Solutions national sales manager Tiaan Hendriks. Renewable-energy sources, such as wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) energy, cannot be solely relied on for constant energy supply, as such an exclusive reliance on renewable-energy sources can result in intermittent energy supply, he adds.
October 2, 2020 by

Wake loss could create headwinds

With wind energy set to contribute more to the national energy grid in the future, owing to the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019, wake loss will become more of a challenge as the wind energy sector grows, says local wind energy company Aurora Wind Power CEO Mmoledi Chisalokile. “The IRP 2019 states that, by 2030, wind energy will represent 23% of the generation capacity in the country, and 18% of annual energy contribution. I believe this is a step in the right direction to help the country meet its climate change targets, as well as secure electricity generation capacity.”
October 2, 2020 by

Company enters wind energy space locally

As engineering solutions provider Zest WEG’s holding company, Brazil-based WEG, is already well-established in the wind energy sector in South America, Zest WEG is developing its own momentum in this segment locally. According to Zest WEG integrated solutions executive Alastair Gerrard, the role of WEG in wind energy has grown well beyond supplying generators to other original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Having developed its own direct drive, gearless wind turbine with a technology partner, and then acquiring that business in 2016, WEG is now a “turbine OEM with ambition”.
October 2, 2020 by

Windaba riding winds of digital change

Owing to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and physical distancing regulations, the tenth yearly Windaba Conference and Exhibition will be hosted as a virtual event on October 26 and 27. The Windaba event brings together exhibitors, industry pioneers and leaders, investors, and power producers.
October 2, 2020 by