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Red Rocket confirms initial 500 MW of interest in 2 000 MW virtual wheeling renewables scheme

Independent power producer (IPP) Red Rocket reports that it has signed up customers for 500 MW of the 2 000 MW of capacity it aims to deploy over the coming three years as part of an innovative scheme designed to provide multiple private offtakers with renewable electricity as from 2026. In recent weeks, the company has been running a national advertising campaign inviting potential customers to make contact regarding its intention to sell “affordable, renewable energy to businesses”.
December 6, 2023 by

Both Koeberg units to be offline from July unless NNR approves Eskom’s licence decoupling …

The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) will decide in January whether to grant Eskom’s request for the Koeberg Unit 1 and Unit 2 licences to be separated to reflect a later commercial operation date for Unit 2 to enable the unit’s continued operation beyond July 2024. Should the NNR board refuse Eskom’s request for a decoupling, the regulator has confirmed both Koeberg units will be offline simultaneously as from July 21, given Eskom’s announcement that Unit 1 is scheduled to undergo another 200-day outage as from that date for further compulsory maintenance, including an integrated leak test of the containment building.
December 4, 2023 by

Ramaphosa concerned developed countries not meeting climate funding obligations

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed concern that the developed economies are still not meeting their obligations to support developing countries with the finance, technology and capacity building needed for effective climate actions. In his weekly newsletter, following his attendance at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, known as COP28, he said, “the operationalisation at COP28 of a fund to help vulnerable countries with loss and damage caused by climate change is a step in the right direction, but it will need substantial funding if it is to fulfil its purpose”.
December 4, 2023 by

Curtailment framework submitted to Nersa as new deadline is set for restart of IPP procurement

Eskom has confirmed that it has delivered a curtailment framework, as well as its proposed Gated Generator Connection Process (GGCP) to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) for approval. However, it is not yet clear whether either will be approved ahead of the restart of public procurement for new independent power producer (IPP) capacity. Minerals Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe reported this week that Bid Window Seven (BW7) of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme would be launched “within two weeks”, along with an inaugural gas-to-power bidding round and a second battery storage bid window.
December 1, 2023 by

COP 28 to host fossil fuels debate

This year’s Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, referred to globally as COP 28 and being held from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will look to address environmental issues, including decarbonisation targets and the “abolishment of fossil fuels”, by 2050. The US Environmental Protection Agency reports that fossil fuels are responsible for about 73% of all greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions globally.
December 1, 2023 by

Financial backing boosts decarbonisation initiative

Financial institution Standard Bank announced last month it had finalised an agreement to support global carbon project developer The African Stove Company (TASC) with funding for what is believed to be the first carbon credit project of its kind in South Africa. The carbon credit project has been designed to combat climate change and simultaneously drive positive social outcomes in rural areas.
December 1, 2023 by

Mantashe says special Cabinet meeting will consider IRP update after Ministers request time to …

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe confirmed that an update of the Integrated Resource Plan, which he has previously dubbed ‘IRP2023’, had served before Cabinet on November 29, but that his Ministerial colleagues had requested more deliberation time before approving the document for public consultation. Speaking in Pretoria at a briefing held to announce the identities of four battery storage preferred bidders, as well as to sign agreements opening the way for a hybrid solar/battery project, Mantashe also stated the IRP would be considered at a special Cabinet meeting scheduled for the coming week.
November 30, 2023 by

Four utility-scale battery projects worth R10bn selected following inaugural public tender

The South African government has selected preferred bidders for the development of four utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in the Northern Cape, with a combined investment value of R10-billion. The four BESS installations will have a combine capacity of 360 MW/1 440 MWh, with three using lithium-ion battery technology, and one being a lithium-iron-phosphate solution.
November 30, 2023 by