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IPP Office says next renewables bid window by end Jan ‘latest’, but possibly before year-end

The head of South Africa’s Independent Power Producer (IPP) Office, which performs the IPP procurement function on behalf of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), says discussions are under way with the department to finalise the roll-out plan for the Section 34 determination that caters for the procurement of 11 813 MW of new generation capacity. Speaking during a webinar on Thursday, IPP Office CEO Tshifhiwa Bernard Magoro said that the fifth bid window, known as BW5, of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) would be launched by the end of January 2021 at the latest, but that the request for proposals (RFP) could be released before the end of 2020.
September 17, 2020 by

Some positive movement on the electricity front

Creamer Media’s Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Creamer Media Editor Terence Creamer about the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s concurrence with a Ministerial determination that paves the way for the resumption of regular procurement and the significance of Eskom having signalled its support for the Ministerial determination.
September 17, 2020 by

Renewables body optimistic next bidding round can be ‘expedited’

The South African Renewable Energy Council (Sarec) expressed optimism on Wednesday that the long-awaited fifth bid window (BW5) of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme could be fast-tracked in light of the energy regulator’s recent concurrence with a Ministerial determination opening the way for the procurement of 11 813 MW of new generation capacity. In a statement signed by chairperson Terence Govender, Sarec said the determination “came ahead of its initially anticipated date”, giving its members hope that the BW5 request for proposals (RFP) could be “expedited”.
September 16, 2020 by

Brand new 33 MW Western Cape wind farm connects to grid

The 33 MW Excelsior Wind Energy Facility, in the Western Cape, has been connected to South Africa’s load-shedding-prone national grid, with all 13 of its wind turbines having been successfully commissioned. The facility is believed to be the first Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme Bid Window 4 (BW 4) project in the Western Cape to achieve the milestone. The province has three BW 4 wind farms under construction and nine in total.
September 16, 2020 by

Solarise Africa welcomes third investor backing clean energy projects in Africa

Pan-African energy leasing company Solarise Africa has landed a further $10-million investment to drive Africa’s clean energy expansion.

The company’s Series B investment round welcomed French development finance institution Proparco, alongside existing investors, investment firm Energy Access Ventures (EAV) and electrification financing initiative EDFI ElectriFI.

September 15, 2020 by

Eskom advises of temporary N3 road closure for work on overhead power line

State-owned Eskom has been granted permission from the South African National Roads Agency for the temporary road closure of the N3 north and southbound, just after the N3 De Hoek Toll Plaza, from 10:00 to 13:00 on September 17, to dismantle and remove a decommissioned high-voltage transmission overhead power line crossing the highway.  All three phase conductors will be removed sequentially.
September 15, 2020 by

Renewable energy could be light at end of load-shedding tunnel, says SAWEA

Local wind energy lobby organisation the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) reports that, as South Africa continues to struggle with the crippling effects of prolonged load-shedding, recent indicators point to a “light at the end of the tunnel that is lit by renewable energy”.

As such, the organisation highlights that, within a short week, three key factors happened that will promote renewable energy, going forward.

September 15, 2020 by