Author Archive for: Engineering News

Two years after its inaugural launch, Nordex Energy South Africa’s internship programme continues to build a pipeline of skilled technicians to service and manage wind farms. To date, 14 young engineers, with a minimum N4 qualification in electrical, mechanical or mechatronics disciplines, have been provided practical training opportunities aligned with the increasing demand for specialised skills within the wind industry.

The 97.5 MW Damlaagte solar PV facility, near Parys in the Free State, has been officially inaugurated, after having entered into commercial operation in August. The plant supplies renewable electricity to Sasol Secunda Operations and represents the first renewable-energy facility to come online under a joint agreement between Sasol and Air Liquide to procure 900 MW of renewables in support of their respective decarbonisation initiatives.

State-owned utility Eskom says it is bolstering efforts to eliminate load reduction by 2027 as South Africa’s electricity system stabilises. The Load Reduction Elimination Strategy, launched by Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa on September 25, sets a roadmap to strengthen the country’s distribution network and address high-risk isolated areas.

The South African electricity market was undergoing a major change, with the development and implementation of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM). “We’re currently in a transition phase,” pointed out National Electricity Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) Executive Manager of Electricity Rhulani Mathebula, in a panel discussion at the Windaba 2025 conference, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, on Thursday. This transition phase was defined as lasting five years. Under SAWEM, the market operating entity would be the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA). This was being created out of national electricity utility Eskom.

The upcoming launch of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM) – currently scheduled for April 1 next year – was generally welcomed by representatives of the wind power industry, participating in a panel discussion at the Windaba 2025 conference, on Thursday. Windaba 2025 was held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. “The SAWEM is definitely very promising,” said G7 Renewable Energies (G7) CEO Kilian Hagemann. He and his team had been very encouraged by their deeper examination of the proposed Market Code for the SAWEM. It was a long and a complicated document. Clearly, a lot of work had been put into it, with a lot of industry engagement. “It is complex. It will take some time for the market [wind sector] to wrap its head around it.”